Orange, Calif. -- 48 hours after playing an opponent from the SCIAC for the very first time, the Thunder men's soccer team did so again on Saturday night, paying a visit to Chapman University in the second of their two matches in southern California this weekend. Wheaton and Chapman played to a 1-1 draw tonight, meaning that the Thunder's overall record is now 1-3-1 on the season. The Wheaton men will now return to Chicagoland for a third-straight non-conference road test on Wednesday before their next home match on Saturday the 21st.

Both teams showed plenty of willingness to attack in tonight's meeting, with the hosting Panthers firing off 17 shot attempts and Wheaton contributing 15 of their own, including 12 in the second half. But clinical finishing was in short supply, as Chapman only scored one goal from their seven efforts on frame and held the Thunder to just three shots on target. Wheaton earned seven corner kick opportunities to Chapman's four on Saturday. 25 total fouls were called and two yellow cards were shown to either side in a physical encounter.

Wheaton goalkeeper Jack Krahel (pictured right), making his first start between the sticks since October of 2022, was one of the standout performers tonight, posting six saves to help the Thunder walk away with a draw. 
Cooper Falling netted the equalizer for Wheaton in the second half with his first collegiate goal off of an assist from fellow freshman David Vezza. Seniors Brock Seneff and Pryse Anderson contributed the other two shots on target for the Thunder in Saturday's contest.

With the exception of Anderson forcing a save from the Chapman shot-stopper after 17 minutes, the early exchanges were controlled by the Panthers. The hosts generated three corner kicks and as many shots on target inside the first 16 minutes, and the breakthrough from this pressure arrived on 23 minutes as the SCIAC side took the lead at home. The remainder of the first period was a cagey stretch, with the Thunder preventing Chapman from putting any more attempts on goal. Seneff nearly tied the game at 1-1 heading into the halftime break in the final seconds of the first 45, but the opposition goalkeeper was up to the task and ensured that the Panthers led 1-0 at the intermission.

Wheaton were again made to work for any offensive looks at goal in the early portion of the second half. But the key moment arrived just past the hour mark, with Wesley Seneff striking a shot against the crossbar and the rebound making its way to Vezza, who promptly fed Falling for his first Wheaton score to knot up the match at 1-1. Chapman tried to snatch their lead back quickly, and Krahel was called upon three times in a two-minute span after the Thunder's goal to ensure that his team did not fall behind again. Six of Wheaton's seven corner kicks tonight took place after the visitors scored to tie the game, but the Panthers defense was well-organized on these set pieces, and neither side could find a decisive late winner, as the match finished with honors even at 1-1.

With its California slate now in the rearview mirror, Wheaton faces a short turnaround to prepare for its next challenge: a visit to ninth-ranked University of Chicago on Wednesday night. Kick-off between the Thunder and the Maroons is scheduled for 7 PM in the Windy City.