GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Adam Blackman scored two goals including the game-winner in the 80th minute in Wheaton's 3-2 victory over Calvin on Friday night.

ADAM BLACKMAN'S GAME-WINNING GOAL

Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton men's soccer team survived an own goal and a stretch of sloppy defensive play to pull out a 3-2 victory over #19-ranked Calvin College in a matchup of Top 25 teams. The Thunder, ranked 10th in the latest NSCAA Coaches Poll, jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first 25 minutes only to be equalized early in the second half. Adam Blackman propelled the Thunder into the lead with a flying header off a beautiful assist from Noah Anthony to put Wheaton in front 3-2, a margin that would hold as the final score. Wheaton advances to 2-1 while Calvin falls to 1-2 on the young season.

Wheaton outshot the Knights 17-5 on the night with an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal. Calvin had six corner kick attempts to Wheaton's one. Matt Paprocki earned the win, allowing two goals and making one save. Niko Giantsopoulos made five saves while allowing three goals.

Wheaton owned the run of play in the early parts of the match and capitalized in the 14th minute when Jordan Golz unleashed a blistering shot from the top of the box that was blocked by the Knights only to be settled by Stephen Golz (PICTURED LEFT), who one-timed it over the shoulder of Giantsopoulos and into the net for the early lead.

Just over ten minutes later, Wheaton again surged forward and Blackman looked to have Wheaton's second goal with a strong right-foot effort but his shot was knocked down at the goal line by Calvin's Sean Broekhuizen, drawing a handball call from the official. Blackman calmly finished the penalty kick to put Wheaton ahead 2-0.

Calvin leveled the playing field over the final 20 minutes of the first half and were rewarded with a fortunate break when Wheaton was credited with an own goal in the 41st minute, cutting the lead to 2-1, which would be halftime advantage. That momentum propelled the Knights into the second half and again some sloppy defending allowed Calvin to equalize the score when Mitch Stark's centering pass trickled through the Thunder defense and past a surprised Paprocki to make it 2-2 in the 50th minute.

Blackman looked to have his second goal of the night when he broke free in the box in the 62nd minute but his shot was blocked wide to keep the score tied. Calvin then threatened in the 73rd minute when Stephan Hooker was able to get his head to a crossing pass but his header slipped wide right of the post.

Finally in the 80th minute, Wheaton was able to capitalize on a moment of brilliance from Noah Anthony (PICTURED RIGHT). Possessing on the left side of the field 30 yards from the end line, Anthony produced a beautiful ball to the backpost that found the head of Blackman who buried the header for the go-ahead goal. Jordan Golz almost provided an insurance goal off a set piece in the 90th minute but the ball was parried by Giantsopoulos to make the final tally 3-2.

Wheaton will next face Hope College at 7 PM on Saturday night at Joe Bean Stadium.

Note Worthy: Wheaton is now 34-0-1 in its last 35 matches when scoring two or more goals.