Wheaton, Ill. -- With the non-conference half of the 2023 regular season in the rearview mirror, the Wheaton men's soccer team turned its focus to CCIW action beginning with a clash against the Illinois Wesleyan Titans on Homecoming weekend. The Thunder topped their Bloomington-based guests in front of a large home crowd this evening by a score of 1-0 thanks to Nati Hamilton's first goal of the season and now own a 6-4 record on the year and a 1-0 mark in conference competition. 

Leading scorer Pryse Anderson got the match well and truly underway with the opening shot on target in the seventh minute. The Thunder earned the first corner kick of the contest three minutes later, and the Titans attempted three shots in an early offensive flurry. The scoring was opened in the 18th minute when Cameron Hoober re-directed a Brock Seneff free kick with an incisive pass across the face of goal for Anderson to take aim. The Illinois Wesleyan goalkeeper blocked the initial effort, but Hamilton was the quickest to react to the deflection and pounced at the back post to thump home the go-ahead goal. Just as it was in the Thunder's last regular season CCIW match against Millikin, the junior's strike proved to be enough for Wheaton to claim victory on home turf.

The hosts were confident in their ability to see out the game having grabbed an early lead and did not register any more shots on target in the first half. Wheaton put four attempts on frame in the second period of tonight's game, with three of the efforts coming in a furious two-minute sequence around the 70-minute mark. Thunder goalkeeper Mason Escalante (pictured at right) was in top form on Saturday, making seven saves across the 90 minutes of play and being quick to react whenever the visitors threatened to erase Wheaton's lead. The Thunder defense put in an assured display down the stretch in tonight's contest, only allowing one shot on target in the final 20 minutes. The Titans never found an avenue back into the game after falling behind, and the Wheaton men were able to match the women's team's result in the first portion of Saturday's doubleheader with a one-goal victory over Illinois Wesleyan to open the conference schedule.

The hosts enjoyed a 60-40% possession advantage this evening, but the other box score stats reflect an even contest. Both teams put seven attempts on goal, with IWU edging Wheaton in total shots, 13-11. The Thunder fashioned six corner kick opportunities while the visitors had four of their own. Illinois Wesleyan was called for 15 fouls, one more than Wheaton, and each side received one yellow card caution.

Hamilton's game-winner was his only shot of the night. Anderson was credited with an assist as a result of his strike on target being put in by his fellow junior, and he led the team with two shots on frame. Hoober, Kyle Johnson, Timmy Jones, and Caden Yamada each contributed one attempt on goal this evening. 

The Thunder men's squad will rightfully celebrate getting off to a winning start in conference play, but the team does not have long before the next test arrives. Wheaton will head to Naperville on Wednesday night to face local rivals North Central, who were ranked 14th in the country in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III poll.