PICTURED ABOVE: Peter Whallon scored the go-ahead goal just 95 seconds into Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Elmhurst.

Wheaton, Ill. - An early scoring burst proved to be enough for the Thunder men's soccer team to get back in win column on Tuesday night. Wheaton scored two goals in the first 12 minutes and held off several late Elmhurst charges to improve to 6-4-1 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Elmhurst falls to 1-10 overall and 0-2 in the CCIW. The victory snaps a three-match losing skid for the Thunder and kicks off a stretch of four straight conference games at home.

Wheaton wasted no time establishing the lead on Tuesday night, needing just 95 seconds to find the first tally of the game. Playing out of the back, Elmhurst goalie Patrick Smith tried to send a long clearance but Peter Whallon was able to jump to deflect Smith's clearance right into the Bluejay net (VIDEO) for the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Thunder continued to pressure the Bluejays following the early score and found the net again just ten minutes later. Off a scramble just outside the box, Shane Kopplin was able to slide the ball to AJ Moyes. Moyes fired a shot bending and dipping inside the far post (VIDEO) to put Wheaton ahead 2-0 in the 12^th minute.
 
Elmhurst was able to find its footing in the match following the second goal and pushed the play away from its own end and into the attacking third. Following a foul just outside the box, Matt McNamara fired a cracker of a free kick just below the crossbar, cutting the Thunder lead in half with 22:22 remaining in the half.
 
McNamara's goal seemed to spur on the Elmhurst attack as they rebounded from their opening sequence to control play for the final 20 minutes of the first half, amassing three corner kick opportunities and several other scoring threats.
 
Ryan Melgar nearly added to the lead just two minutes into the second half, skying for a header off a set piece. Smith had other plans, stretching out to full extension to swat the header just wide of the near post and out for a Thunder corner kick.
 
Both teams settled in defensively following the early scoring chance and defenses controlled play, limiting the scoring chances for both teams and keeping the game in the middle third of the field.
 
Elmhurst's best chance to equalize came quickly off a free kick when Austin Culver found a moment of freedom and blasted a hard driving shot that Biddlecome was able to divert just over the crossbar to preserve the one-goal lead with 17 minutes to play.
 
With just over ten minutes to play, Wheaton played long out of the midfield to find Whallon in space with just one defender to beat. Whallon deftly dropped the ball off to Ryan Melgar in front of the net but Melgar could not control for the putaway touch and insurance goal, keeping the lead at 2-1.
 
A relatively quiet night in net for Hasten Biddlecome turned in a hurry in the final seconds of the match. Elmhurst came flying forward and unleashed a driving shot from the right side of the box toward the far post that was answered by a diving stop by the sophomore goalkeeper (VIDEO) to parry the ball wide and preserve the victory.
 
Biddlecome's final save was his third to go with one goal allowed. Patrick Smith allowed two goals and made seven saves for the Bluejays. Wheaton outshot Elmhurst 19-7 including a 13-2 second half advantage.
 
Wheaton will next be in action on Friday night when the Thunder play host to Augustana at 7 pm at Joe Bean Stadium.