GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Matt Paprocki made three saves including one in the final minute to preserve Wheaton's 1-0 at WashU on Friday night.

St. Louis, Mo. - An early defensive miscue opened the door for the Thunder early in the game and it would prove to be the difference as the #14-ranked men's soccer team defeated the Washington (Mo.) University Bears 1-0 on Friday night. Stephen Golz scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season in the first half to propel the Thunder to its seventh consecutive victory and improve Wheaton's record to 9-2 on the season. WashU falls to 4-2-1 on the season after Wheaton snapped the Bears' three-game win streak.

Matt Paprocki made three saves for the Thunder in registering his fourth shutout of the season. Wheaton has now strung together four consecutive shutouts. Daniel Geanon made five saves and surrendered just one goal for the Bears. Wheaton outshot WashU 10-8 on the night while the Bears held a 6-2 edge in corner kick opportunities.

With opportunities few and far between through the opening minutes of the match, a miscue by Geanon opened the door for what proved to be the deciding play of the match. Early in the 27th minute, Geanon mishandled a ball in the box and deflected the ball up in the air. In the right place for the Thunder, Stephen Golz (PICTURED RIGHT) rose to head the ball past the defense and into the net to give Wheaton the 1-0 lead. With only seven shots in the first half and just two of those placed on goal, the goal gave the Thunder the momentum at the halftime break.

The Bears regrouped and were able to apply some pressure in the early minutes of the second half, forcing Paprocki to make a pair of saves in the first 10 minutes of the half. Wheaton was able to stem the tide and level the field, returning the action back to the midfield and thwart any further attacking opportunities from the Bears in the second half. WashU threatened on a desperation push in the final minute of the match but Paprocki was on the spot to save the potential equalizer with just a few seconds remaining.

Wheaton will continue its string of road contests on Wednesday night when the Thunder head north to take on the Pioneers of UW-Platteville at 7 PM.