PICTURED ABOVE: Max Carey's goal with 22 seconds left in overtime gave Wheaton a 1-0 win at Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday.

Bloomington, Ill. - Late was certainly better than never for the Thunder men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon. After nearly 100 minutes of scoreless soccer between the Thunder and the Titans, Max Carey's blast with 23 seconds left in the first overtime period gave the Thunder a 1-0 road victory. With the win, Wheaton improves to 4-7-3 overall and 2-3 in the CCIW. Illinois Wesleyan falls to 6-6-1 overall and 2-2 in conference action. Wheaton will return home on Wednesday night for a crucial CCIW battle with the Augustana Vikings starting at 7 PM at Joe Bean Stadium.

Wheaton controlled the action for much of this afternoon's contest, outshooting the Titans 17-7 and holding the Titans without a shot on goal until the overtime period. Andrew Beard made just one save in his clean sheet performance. The Titans' Eddie Sanchez stopped six shots and allowed the one goal in 99 minutes and 37 seconds of action.

Early pressure from the Thunder nearly led to a goal midway through the first half but Sanchez was able to answer the call twice in the 22nd minute to keep the Titans on level footing. Wheaton would hold the Titans to just two shots in the scoreless first half. Sanchez was up to the task again in a mad scramble in the 69th minute, making back-to-back saves on shots from Max Carey and Will Woodfin. Woodfin nearly found the net several minutes later when his shot rattled the crossbar but was denied. The Titans were able to make a late push in the final minute and their shot at a winner with 13 seconds left in regulation sailed wide.

Both keepers were able to deny the opponents in the overtime period with punch outs as Sanchez kept Carey out of the net in the 93rd minute and Beard responded by doing the same to Orion Marty in the 96th minute. Finally with the clock running out on the first overtime period, Carey launched a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that found the lower right corner of the net for his second goal of the season and the game-winner.