'On This Day' Wheeler’s Pair Make History for Men’s Soccer Program

'On This Day' is a Wells College Athletics feature series taking a look back on events that occurred on this day, Sept. 25, fourteen years ago in 2006.

WEST SENECA, N.Y. – Derek Wheeler scored two goals to lead the Wells College Express men's soccer team to its first victory in college history on Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, in a 2-1 overtime win over D'Youville College at the West Seneca Sports Complex.

The Express found itself down 1-0 four minutes into the first half, but Wheeler answered at the 24:22 mark for his first collegiate goal to even the game. After a scoreless second half, overtime was needed to find a winner.

In the sudden-death extra session, Wheeler again found the net for the decisive tally after 4:48 to give the Express the win. Wheeler and Mike Miller combined for 13 shots on goal to lead the Wells College offense.

Mike Birklin out-performed his opposition goalkeeper with a double-digit save performance with 10 stops. Each team finished with four corners.

The victory is the first career triumph for head coach Michael Paolini.

Boxscore: https://www.wells-express.com/sports/msoc/2006-07/boxscores/20060925_74ht.xml