PICTURED ABOVE: Will Woodfin celebrates his second half goal in Wheaton's 3-0 victory over St. Olaf on Friday night.
Wheaton, Ill. - The Thunder men's soccer team opened its 2017 season with a dominant 3-0 shutout of St. Olaf on Friday night in front of a large crowd at Joe Bean Stadium. Wheaton broke a scoreless halftime tie early in the half and never looked back en route to winning its eight-straight season opener. Wheaton has now scored three or more goals in five consecutive season openers. The Thunder will conclude the 2017 Bob Baptista Invitational on Saturday night at 7 pm against Loras College.
Wheaton dictated the terms of the match from the opening kick, outshooting the Oles 21-2 and holding a 17-0 edge in shots on goal.
Hasten Biddlecomb became the first Wheaton freshman to start in goal for a season opener since Kit Carson in 2008, but was untested in his 90 minutes between the pipes. St. Olaf's Ben Westermeyer made 14 saves but allowed three goals for the Oles.
An opening-minute defensive gaffe by the Oles nearly gifted Wheaton an opening goal but Westermeyer answered the bell on
Max Carey's volley just 48 seconds into the match to avoid an early goal. Wheaton continued the early pressure, compiling a 12-1 shot advantage in the opening minute yet continuing to come up without a goal.
Will Woodfin nearly found the net in the 28th minute, breaking free at the top of the box but Westermeyer produced a brilliant kick-save to send the shot wide and keep the game scoreless, where it would remain until hafltime.
The scoreless tie lasted barely over a minute into the second half and was brought to a thundering close when Westermeyer's attempted clearance was sent right to Woodfin in front of an open net for the game's first goal. Westermeyer was called upon again for several more clutch saves before Wheaton broke the match open midway through the second half. In the 71st minute,
Peter Whallon tallied his first career marker with a strong effort to the far post from the right-side of the box.
Miseker Wingate was credited with the assist. Seeking a second goal minutes later, Whallon's shot was saved by Westermeyer but bounced free to
Shane Kopplin who scored his first collegiate goal to account for the final 3-0 spread.
Wheaton will be back in action at Joe Bean Stadium on Saturday night at 7 pm when the Thunder host the Loras Duhawks. Loras fell to Aurora 3-2 in overtime on Friday afternoon.
