Box Score
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Wheaton scored four goals in 17 minutes in the second half Wednesday to recover from a 2-1 deficit and claim a 5-2 victory over Augustana at Thorson-Lucken Field. The eighth-ranked Thunder improves to 13-3-1 on the year and 4-0-1 in the CCIW, while the Vikings drop to 5-9-1 overall and 0-5-0 in the conference.
Already leading 2-1 at the half, the hosts had a chance to extend the advantage early in the second period. Shortly after Augustana keeper
Tyler Cowherd (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) kept the Vikings ahead with a diving save on a header by Wheaton's Reed Bartley,
Grant Halter (Glenbard West HS, Glen Ellyn, Ill.) fired a shot from the left side, but it glanced just off the right post. The Thunder countered and Stephen Golz headed in a pass from Noah Anthony to level the score.
Golz's goal opened the flood gates, as Marshall Hollingsworth found the net twice and Golz once again over the next 17 minutes, giving Wheaton a 5-2 lead which it maintained over final 22 minutes of the match.
Nine minutes into the contest, Wheaton's Adam Blackman beat Cowherd from the right side to give the visitors the lead. It stayed that way until the 29th minute, when
Matt Shipon (South Elgin HS, Elgin, Ill.) passed ahead to a racing
Patrick Nelson (Jacksonville HS, Jacksonville, Ill.). Nelson beat keeper Derek Babb to tie it at 1-1.
It looked like the teams would take that score into halftime until Augustana was awarded a free kick from 25 yards out on the right side in the 44th minute. After Shipon bluffed a right-footed attempt, freshman
Michael Brazinski (Plainfield East HS, Plainfield, Ill.) bent a beautiful left-footed blast into the upper left corner of the goal to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead.
The Thunder had a 16-7 advantage in total shots and a 10-2 edge in shots on goal. Corners were even at three. Babb did not record a save in the match, while Cowherd as credited with five.
The Vikings host Elmhurst on Saturday, October 26. Game time at Thorson-Lucken Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
