Angola, Ind. -- After a brief respite from a three-match stretch of road games with Saturday's victory over WashU, the Wheaton men's soccer team kicked off another run of three games away from home this afternoon by heading east to take on the Thunder of Trine University. In just the second-ever meeting between the programs, Wheaton emerged with a 3-1 win today to complete the home-and-away double over Wednesday's opponent, having topped the MIAA side, 3-2, at Bean Stadium last September. Today's victory marks the first road win of the season for Wheaton and takes the team's record to 3-4-1 in 2024.

The hosts accounted for the first shot on target and the first two corner kicks of the contest within the opening six minutes, before Cooper Falling drew the first save from Trine's goalkeeper to spark the Wheaton offense into gear. Two minutes later, the opposition Thunder fired back with another pair of corners and efforts on goal as the home side sought to snatch an early lead. But Mason Escalante and the Wheaton back line resisted this opening wave of pressure and did well to keep the match scoreless. 

The breakthrough came on 23 minutes against the run of play when Falling teed up Kyle Johnson for his fourth goal of the season to nudge Wheaton in front. This setback for the hosts temporarily nullified their offensive mobility, and the visitors seized control of the contest. Before Trine had a chance to respond, Cameron Hoober (pictured below) doubled the Thunder's lead in the 34th minute with his first collegiate goal via an assist from Jack Kern, who now leads the team in the category with three so far this year. The Trine attack eventually woke back up and finished the first half with a sense of urgency, striking the post and forcing two more stops by Escalante within the last two minutes of the period. But the home side were unable to cash in on any of these chances in front of goal, and Wheaton entered the intermission with its 2-0 lead intact.

Trine came out of the break with a majority of the chances once again, but Wheaton were well-organized and refused to allow their Thunder counterparts back into the contest, displaying confident game management in the second half for the second fixture running. After a lull in the middle of the second 45, Johnson put the result beyond doubt in the 77th minute with his team-high fifth goal of the campaign thanks to an assist from Brock Seneff. Trine finally got on the scoresheet and avoided being shut out at home in the last minute of the 90 from their 16th and final shot attempt of the game, but it was too little, too late, and Wheaton sailed to its second-straight 3-1 win in non-conference play.

The hosts held most of the statistical advantages this afternoon, taking 16 shots to Wheaton's 11, putting eight efforts on goal to their visitors' six, generating significantly more corner kick opportunities, and enjoying 57% of the ball. But Wheaton earned the most important box score advantage today courtesy of some precise finishing, determined defensive play, and mental focus. 22 total fouls were called and three yellow cards were handed out by the head official in Wednesday's meeting.

Just as he was in Saturday's upset over WashU, Escalante was a central reason for the Thunder's success in this match, making seven saves and keeping the Trine offense out of the goal long enough for the result to be secured. Johnson was the only Wheaton player to put multiple shots on target this afternoon, and he buried both of these efforts to lead the team to their third win of the year. Hoober scored what ultimately proved to be the game-winner from his only attempt of the match. Falling and Seneff each contributed an assist and one effort on target, while Kern chipped in with an assist in his 35-minute cameo. Pryse Anderson, who bagged a hat-trick in last year's victory over Trine, accounted for Wheaton's one other shot on goal today.

The Thunder have one more non-conference match scheduled in the regular season, and it is another Wednesday road trip to a MIAA team in Kalamazoo College. But between now and then, the Wheaton men will head to Elmhurst University on Saturday night to begin their 2024 CCIW slate. Kick-off in the conference opener between the Thunder and the Bluejays is scheduled for 7:30 PM at Langhorst Field.