PICTURED ABOVE: Marshall Hollingsworth scored Wheaton's only goal in a 1-0 victory over UW-Whitewater on Saturday night.
Wheaton, Ill. - For the second year in a row and the third time in the last four seasons, the Thunder men's soccer team is heading back to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Wheaton posted a shutout of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks to earn a 1-0 victory. Wheaton will now wait to learn its upcoming opponents and location for next weekend's Sectional Round of the tournament. Wheaton is now 14-3-3 on the season while the Warhawks end their season 14-4-2.
Matt Paprocki (PICTURED RIGHT) made five saves in recording the clean sheet for the Thunder. Alex Buchman allowed one goal and made six saves for the Warhawks. Wheaton held a decisive 20-9 advantage in shots including a 12-4 edge in the second half. Both teams attempted three corner kicks.
While Wheaton owned the early possession, it was UW-Whitewater that challenged strongest in the opening minutes when Dylan Hottsmith secured a long forward pass with a chest trap and quickly volleyed a shot towards the net that Paprocki knocked down and smothered for the save. The Warhawks threatened again in the 22nd minute but Wheaton quickly took the ball away in the box and played forward to
Stephen Golz. Golz then deftly played a through ball to spring
Marshall Hollingsworth into space but Hollingsworth was dragged down as he entered the box, earning a penalty. Hollingsworth calmly finished the corner kick opportunity for his 18th goal of the season to give Wheaton a 1-0 lead at the 22:32 mark.
A defensive miscommunication by the Warhawks nearly led to a second goal when
Tyler Robbins turned to find himself open at the top of the 18-yard box but his shot was saved by Buchman. Robbins threatened again in the 34th minute but his shot curved wide to the right to leave the score at 1-0 at halftime.
An early shot by
Stephen Golz threatened Buchman but curved wide of the near post before the game settled into a midfield battle. In the 79th minute, Buchman was awarded a yellow card for touching the ball outside the box, giving Wheaton a free kick opportunity from an advantageous spot. Hollingsworth nearly added to the lead as his shot attempt curled in to the far post but pounded off the crossbar and was cleared away by the Warhawks.
A scrum inside the six-yard box several minutes later, threatened Paprocki but a header by Taylor Ortiz sailed high and over the crossbar.
Elliot Borge's attempt in the 85th minute proved to be the last threat of the game as Wheaton iced the 1-0 victory.
Wheaton will next be in action on Friday night when the Thunder participate in the Sectional Semifinal round against either Macalester or St. Olaf.
