BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- The Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer team suffered its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin loss of the year, 3-2, to Wheaton College Wednesday night, Oct. 8, under the lights of Neis Field. IWU sees its record fall to 7-2-2 (1-1 CCIW) while Wheaton remains undefeated in CCIW play (3-0) and jumped to 7-2-3 overall.

The Thunder struck first 16 minutes into the game when Cooper Falling capitalized on the left side of the box and lifted it over senior goalkeeper Sam Kedzior (Cary, Ill-Cary-Grove) for an early advantage. 

Illinois Wesleyan's offensive attack struggled to break through in the first period despite opportunities to do so. In the 24th minute junior Matthew Perchik (Glenview, Ill- New Trier) fired a shot high and wide of the net, and minutes later a golden opportunity from senior Kalabi Kamau (Alpharetta, Ga.- Marist School) found the goalkeeper's hands. Still in the first half, the Thunder attack doubled its lead when Jack Jacquet swept a cross from 50 yards out over the Titan backline before sending a shot past the outstretched arms of Kedzior to the top left shelf of the net. 

Fresh out of halftime, the Titan offense was poised for a goal as one came on Ryder Coleman's (Bannockburn, Ill-Deerfield) third of the year. Waiting in the box, Coleman jumped on a header from junior Joey Rodino (Palatine, Ill-Fremd) and scooted it past the goalkeeper to cut into the Wheaton lead. However, the Thunder had an answer. Off the kickoff, Wheaton moved the ball down the pitch into its offensive zone, and found Reuban Bos on the far side who flew it across to the top left of the net to extend the lead, 3-1. 

Later on in the second period Rodino and sophomore Ben Lyons (Orland Park, Ill.- Carl Sandburg) had ideal looks to knot the score. Rodino's shot attempt in the 57th minute flew high into the pitch black night, while Lyons' shot from the top of the box did the same in the 87th minute.

Coleman had one more spark left in his boot, with just over a minute remaining. Sophomore Gavin Young (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) drove down the near side and stretched a pass to Coleman, in the middle of the box, who beat the goalkeeper to the back of the net. An aggressive Titan attack over the last minute fell short in an attempt to complete the comeback.

Both goalkeepers kept busy as a combined 39 shots were fired at the net, with the Thunder's Jack Krahel stopping seven shots and Kedzior stopping the same. The seven saves by Kedzior is a season-high. IWU outshot Wheaton with 21 compared to the Thunder's 18. 

Homecoming weekend features more conference action at Neis Field, as IWU will welcome North Park University Saturday, Oct. 11. The contest serves as the back end of a double header, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.