Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder men's soccer team earned a decisive 7-0 victory at home on Saturday against Alma College (2-7-0). The seven goals scored by Wheaton tonight is the most for the Thunder men's soccer program since it scored nine goals against Finlandia at home on October 28, 2017.
Wheaton is now 5-1-0 on the season as the Thunder open conference in its next match. The squad hosts Augustana on Wednesday, September 29, at 7:00 p.m.
Tonight's match was scoreless for nearly the first 30 minutes. Once Wheaton tallied its first goal the Thunder looked strong. A handball against Alma in the penalty box in the 30
th minute allowed Wheaton's Allessandro D'Argento a penalty kick opportunity that he converted to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Freshman
Jack Jacquet collected a cross from
Joey Sopikiotis and blasted a long shot into the lower right side of the goal to increase Wheaton's lead to 2-0 in the 35
th minute. Sopikiotis scored his second goal of the season less than two minutes later. He blasted the ball in from about 22 yards out, off of a cross from
AJ Moyes.
Wes Bevard headed the ball into the net in the 39
th minute off of an assist from Moyes to extend Wheaton's lead to 4-0.
Wheaton out-shot the Scots 16-1 in the first half, including a 5-0 edge in shots on goal for the hosts. Wheaton led Alma 4-0 at halftime.
Grant Roney put the ball into the left side of the net off a pass from
Harrison Lee in the 66
th minute. Roney's first career goal extended Wheaton's lead to 5-0.
Shane Kopplin tallied his first goal of the season in the 82
nd minute off an assist from Roney to give Wheaton a 6-0 lead. The 7-0 final score was the result of
Nathan Berg's first collegiate goal in the 86
th minute. Fellow freshman
Zakhar Zapolskyy's touch pass to Berg was hooked into the lower left corner of the net.
Thunder goalkeeper
Hasten Biddlecome played 66 minutes in net and did not face a shot.
Mason Escalante recorded one save in 24 minutes in the Wheaton net. Alma netminder Chris Henry made four saves and allowed seven goals in his 90 minutes in the Scots' net.
Wheaton out-shot the Scots 31-4, including an 11-1 edge in shots on goal. Wheaton was awarded nine corner kicks and Alma had two.