PICTURED ABOVE: Josh Clark scored a pair of goals in Wheaton's season-opening 4-1 win over Macalester.

Wheaton, Ill.- The sixth-ranked Wheaton men's soccer team had to wait an extra couple hours before finally kicking off their 2013 season. After severe thunderstorms rolled through the Wheaton area causing the cancellation of the Wheaton women's soccer game, the Thunder finally got started with their match-up against the Scots of Macalester College almost two hours after the scheduled 7 PM start time. Once they did get started, Wheaton wasted little time living up to their preseason ranking as the Thunder rolled to a 4-1 victory.

Wheaton outshot Macalester 26-1 on the night with a 10-1 edge in shots on goals. The Thunder attempted 11 corner kicks against just two corner tries by the Scots.

Wheaton goalie Derek Babb allowed one goal in 90 minutes of work. Macalester starting goalie Noah Schoenberg surrendered one goal and made three saves before departing the game due to a simultaneous red card and injury at the 30:27 mark. Backup Zeke Vainer allowed three goals and made three saves in 59:33 of work.

It the took the Thunder just 12 minutes and 15 seconds to find the back of the net. After a long cross over the box, Kevin Skinker crossed to the top of the eight-yard box and found the Josh Clark who headed the ball back to the near post for the first goal.

Macalester found level ground a little over eight minutes later when Alan Schembri-Wismayer found a loose ball in the box and slid a shot past a diving Babb to even the score.

Almost ten minutes later, Marshall Hollingsworth won a race for a loose ball along the Macalester backline and looked to have the Macalester keeper beat but was taken down in a collision with Schoenberg that led to the red card and injury. Off the subsequent free kick, Noah Anthony (PICTURED RIGHT) drove a two-touch set up into the net to give the Thunder the 2-1 lead. Hollingsworth and Elliot Borge were credited with assists on the play.

Sixty-one seconds later Stephen Golz found a loose ball at the top of the box and chipped the ball past the on-rushing goalie to put the Thunder up 3-1 at the 31:38 mark. That lead would hold until halftime.

The Thunder played possession ball for much of the second half, just missing several opportunities to extend their lead. Late in the 81st minute, Chad Musgraves made a beautiful run into the right side of the box, split a pair of defenders and slid a pass across the mouth of goal to Josh Clark who one-timed it high into the net to give Wheaton the final advantage of 4-1.

Wheaton will continue their play in the Bob Baptista Invitational tomorrow night at 7 PM when the Thunder host Taylor University at Joe Bean Stadium.  Taylor played to a 2-2 tie with Augustana in the first men's game of the tournament.