PICTURED ABOVE: Marshall Hollingsworth scored the game's only goal in Wheaton's 1-0 victory over Elmhurst on Friday night.

Wheaton, Ill. - The well-traveled Thunder men's soccer team looked very comfortable in a rare home game on Friday night, dominating the run of play for a 1-0 victory over Elmhurst to kick off the conference schedule. Playing its only home game over a six-week span, the tenth-ranked Thunder outshot the visiting Bluejays 28-4 and its fifth shutout in the last six games. The win was Wheaton's ninth straight victory and improved the hosts to 11-2 on the season. Elmhurst falls to 6-3-2 with the loss. Wheaton will not play another home game until an October 29 meeting with Augustana.

Matt Paprocki (PICTURED RIGHT) made just two saves for the Thunder in recording his fifth clean sheet of the season. John Reglin made 12 saves and allowed one goal for the Bluejays. Wheaton owned a 13-2 edge in shots on goal. Both teams attempted three corner kicks.

Wheaton wasted little time in establishing the tone for game by peppering the Bluejays goal with shots through the opening minutes. Reglin made three saves in the first three minutes so thwart the Thunder onslaught. The barrage finally broke through early in the 15th minute off a Thunder corner kick. Marshall Hollingsworth collected a short corner and weaved his was way through the defense all the way to middle of the box and fired a strong left foot from the top of the eight-yard box to put Wheaton ahead 1-0. The Thunder attack remained relentless for the remainder of the first half with the Thunder outshooting the Bluejays 19-1 in the opening frame but netting just the one goal.

The second half opened with much of the same from the Thunder as Reglin was called on again for a pair of saves in the opening three minutes of the half, but the Bluejays were able to push forward and keep the Thunder attack stationed more in the midfield as the half wore on. Drawing on a late desperate push, the Bluejays were able to push forward for a pair of shots in the final minute and a half but Paprocki handled both attempts to preserve the 1-0 shutout.

Wheaton will next be in action next Saturday when the Thunder travel to Decatur, Illinois, to take on the Millikin Big Blue at 7:30 PM.