PICTURED ABOVE: AJ Moyes celebrates after scoring Wheaton's third goal in their 5-0 win over Benedictine on Friday night
Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton's offensive attack provided both quantity and quality in Friday night's season opening win over Benedictine. Highlight worthy goals were abundant as the Thunder cruised to a 5-0 victory. Five different goal scorers helped drive the Thunder to their second consecutive season-opening shutout victory. Wheaton will conclude its weekend on Saturday night when the Thunder host Ohio Wesleyan University for a 7 pm kickoff.
Despite just a one-shot edge at halftime, Wheaton finished the game with a 14-7 edge in shots and a 7-1 advantage in shots on goal. Shawn Chervets made two saves and allowed five goals in 81:10 for the Eagles.
Hasten Biddlecome made one save in 67:14 to earn the victory in goal for Wheaton.
Wheaton threatened early and often in the opening minutes of action, earning a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box only 20 seconds into the match.
AJ Moyes nearly cracked the scoreboard in the 11th minute, but was turned away by a diving save by Chervets. Just over a minute later,
Shane Kopplin unleashed a one-time left-footed volley that pounded off the bottom of the crossbar and down into the net for Wheaton's first goal.
Benedictine's defense weathered the storm through the middle of the half and the Eagles nearly leveled things in the 35th minute. With just under 10 minutes left in the first half, the Eagles played long, forcing Biddlecome to come rushing off his line. His clearance deflected off the attacking Benedictine player and rolled dangerously toward the open net. Racing in from the side,
Drew Beamer made a sliding stop just ahead of the goal line to deflect the ball out wide, the ensuing header by Larry Meehan flew over the crossbar leaving the score at 1-0.
In the 39th minute,
Austin Pack quelled the Benedictine momentum, unleashing a thunderous strike from 25 yards out that hit the inside of the right post and found the back of the net to give Wheaton a 2-0 lead it would take to halftime.
It would take just over three minutes for the Thunder to connect again in the second half.
AJ Moyes stole the ball off the feet of Daniel Orlich and quickly moved in to beat Chervets with the third goal of the game in the 49th minute.
Wheaton's lone blemish on the night came in the 53rd minute when
Elliot Paul was redcarded for a tackle just outside the 18-yard box, slowing a potential Benedictine breakaway. Playing a man down did not bother the Thunder as they added to their lead in the 60th minute when
Matt Olson converted a steal into a beautiful give-and-go goal, teaming with
Michael Martens to earn his first collegiate goal.
Chase Gwynn put the finishing touches on the scoring by beating Chervets off a
Jeremy Jasperse assist at the 80:16 mark, firing the ball beautifully into the top corner of the net and inside the far post.
In Friday's other action, Ohio Wesleyan defeated Washington University (Mo.), scoring a goal in the final minutes despite playing man-down after a red card with 33 minutes left in the game.
