Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder men's soccer team turned in one of its finest all-around performances on Friday night in a dominant 4-0 victory over Millikin University in front of a spirited Homecoming crowd at Joe Bean Stadium. Wheaton outshot the Big Blue 23-2 on the night and controlled the play in their attacking end to improve to 7-3-2 overall and 1-1 in CCIW play. Millikin drops to 8-3 overall and 0-2 in the CCIW.

Wheaton goalie Matt Paprocki made just one save in registering his fifth shutout of the season and his fourth shutout in Wheaton's last five games. Millikin's Daniel Sinclair faced nine shots on goal and made five saves while allowing four goals. Wheaton had six corner kick opportunities while not allowing any for Millikin.

Despite controlling the play throughout the first half, Wheaton was left with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. A Reed Bartley header in the 31st minute appeared to be destined for the net but a Millikin defender was able to clear the ball with a header at the far post to preserve the shutout.

In the final minute of the first half, a beautiful display of tic-tac-toe passing led to the Thunder finally finding the scoreboard. Marshall Hollingsworth started the play with a brilliant pass to a running Tyler Robbins on the left side of the box who deftly one-touched a pass across the top of the eight-yard box and onto the foot of Mitchell Grove who finished for the goal at the 44:09 mark. Grove had just entered the game as a substitute just over two minutes prior to the goal.

Andrw Wade nearly made it a two-goal lead when his heavy shot rose just over the crossbar in the 55th minute. Marshall Hollingsworth did make it a two-goal lead in the 57th minute when he took an assist from Max Carey and outraced the Millikin defense and chipped the ball past Sinclair to double the Thunder advantage.

Two minutes later Stephen Golz crossed a ball through the box to find Tyler Robbins (PICTURED RIGHT), who calmly finished inside the near post for his first career goal to make it a three-goal lead in the 59th minute. Golz narrowly missed an opportunity later in the game when a breakaway led to a shot that missed wide left. Mason Garell was able to finish the scoring in the 89th minute when he collected an assist from Noah Gulley and slid the ball into the net to account for the final 4-0 score.

Wheaton will return to Joe Bean Stadium on Wednesday night, October 14, when the Thunder host the Carthage Red Men at 7 PM.

Note Worthy: A moment of silence was observed prior to Friday night's contest to honor the passing of former men's soccer coach, Dr. Bob Baptista, who passed away at the age of 93 on Friday. Bob Baptista was Wheaton's first full-time men's soccer coach and guided the team for 16 seasons, with 104 victories 11 All-Americans and three NCAA Mid-East Regional championship teams.