Wheaton wins tourney opener

The Wheaton College men's soccer team was a 3-0 victor at home Wednesday night against Carroll College (Wis.) in a first-round match of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

With the win the Thunder (14-6-1) advances to a second-round match at Loras College (20-0-1) on Saturday night. Saturday's contest will be a rematch of a 1-1 tie played between the Duhawks and the Thunder on Sept. 1.

Wheaton's Joel DeLass gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead tonight when he blasted the ball into the back of the net off of an assist from sophomore Matt Swartz 11:34 into the match. The Thunder lead increased to 2-0 when DeLass headed a Swartz corner kick into the net at the 29:09 mark of the match.

Wheaton freshman Cameron Risma headed the ball into the net off a well-placed Swartz cross, 59:23 into the match, to account for the final score of 3-0.

"I am most pleased with the fact that the guys did not look ahead," Wheaton coach Mike Giuliano said. "There is a lot of emotion attached to the possibility of a rematch with Loras. They never looked ahead, they took Carroll very seriously as they should have. Carroll is a good team. We played a complete game tonight."

Wheaton outshot the Pioneers 18-9 tonight and the Thunder held a 9-2 edge in corner kicks. Wheaton goalkeeper BJ Dons recorded his second consecutive shutouts, making five saves in the Thunder net. Carroll netminder Stanislaw Miaskowski made 4 saves and allowed 3 goals.