Abilene, Texas -- Two nonconference matches in two days, same city, same result. 24 hours after drawing 1-1 with McMurry University, the Wheaton men's soccer team did the same against Hardin-Simmons on Saturday night. Harrison Lee canceled out the Cowboys' opener with a well-taken finish, and the goal was enough for the visitors to earn a draw after a scoreless second half. With an unbeaten weekend in Texas behind them, Wheaton's record now sits at 2-3-2 heading into their last nonconference fixture before CCIW play begins. 

The visitors registered the first two shots of tonight's contest, but neither one was on frame, and it took the home side just eight minutes to open the scoring. The Cowboys attacker danced his way down the Thunder's left flank all the way to the byline before slipping a tricky shot into the goal at the near post to give Hardin-Simmons an early lead. It would have been easy for Wheaton to let their heads drop and simply go through the motions after conceding the early strike, but the long-distance travelers hit back just six minutes later to tie up the score. In similar fashion to Wheaton's second goal against Concordia Chicago two weeks ago, Brock Seneff heaved a long ball up the wing in the direction of the chasing Harrison Lee. This time there was no goalkeeper mistake to aid Lee, but the junior finished the chance off just as ruthlessly, burying the ball in the far corner of the net after a one-v-one battle with the Cowboys keeper to earn a lightning-quick counterattacking equalizer for the Thunder. After this fast-paced opening to the match, the game settled into a slower rhythm, and neither team registered another shot on target in the first half as both sides played more cautiously.

Hardin-Simmons ramped up the pressure in the second 45, posting multiple shots on target and forcing a clearance off the line on an attempt that was headed for the upper 90 of Wheaton's goal. The away side responded by forcing a team save of their own six minutes later, but both goalkeepers were determined to keep the door closed. The Cowboys earned two corner kicks in the final couple of minutes, and Jack Krahel had to make three saves in the Wheaton net in a nervy ending to Saturday's clash, but the Thunder unit held firm and the team left Abilene with another heard-fought draw.

The full match stats reflect a balance of play just as even as the final scoreline suggested. Both teams posted 16 shot attempts, with seven of Hardin-Simmons' finding the frame to six on target for Wheaton. Possession was evenly shared at a 50-50% split. Krahel made five saves in goal for Wheaton while his counterpart in the Cowboys' goal collected four. The only category which saw real separation between the two teams was corner kicks, with the Cowboys earning eight to just two for the Thunder.

Harrison Lee and Alessandro D'Argento continued their fine attacking form in the early stages of the season tonight, with both players registering two shots and putting one on frame and Lee finding the back of the net. Brock Seneff and Drew Beamer, who combined on the move that led to Wheaton's goal, were both credited with an assist. Michael Martens, Kyle Johnson, Pryse Anderson, and Sam Grotelueschen each accounted for one shot on target for Wheaton this evening.

While the Thunder will be disappointed not to have won any of their nonconference away matches at the start of the 2022 season, they can gain confidence from an unbeaten road trip that saw them avoid defeat against two teams with plenty of unknowns. Next up for Wheaton is an opponent with whom they have been considerably more familiar over the years, Washington University (Mo.). The Thunder are set to host WashU at 5 PM next Saturday to round out their nonconference slate.