GAME STATS Chicago, Ill. - The Wheaton men's soccer fell 2-1 at North Park University on Saturday night in the conference opener for the Thunder. Wheaton falls to 2-5-3 overall and 0-1 in CCIW play while North Park improves to 7-2-1 overall and 3-0 in conference action. Wheaton will next be in action on Wednesday night when Wheaton travels to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to face #19-ranked Carthage College.

North Park owned the edge in shots (17-13) and shots on goal (7-4) on Saturday night. Andrew Beard made five saves and allowed two goals for Wheaton. Wesley Woodley made three saves and allowed one goal for the Vikings.

North Park provided early pressure on the Thunder goal with a series of corner kicks in the opening 20 minutes of action. As the first half wore on, action opened up with two teams earning quality looks at goal but both goalies answering the call. With halftime nearing, North Park was able to dent the scoreboard with a goal from Miguel Valle of an assist from Kebba Sanyang to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead with just 23 seconds remaining in the first half.

After some early North Park pressure in the second half, Wheaton countered with a series of corner kicks beginning in the 59th minute. Unable to take advantage, the momentum quickly swung back to the Vikings when Matias Warp doubled the Viking lead with his second goal of the season to make it 2-0.

Danny Brandt's goal at the 86:48 mark tightened things down the stretch and Max Carey had a shot to tie the game in the 89th minute that was saved by Woodley to preserve the win.