WHEATON, IL (09.01.16) - The nationally-ranked Wheaton College Thunder had its hands full with the UT Dallas Comets in the season opener Thursday night, but held on for a 3-2 win over UTD.

No. 7 Wheaton built a 2-1 halftime advantage, then shut down a furious Comet comeback attempt in the final minutes to improve to 1-0 on the year. UTD fell to 0-1 in the first of a three-game road trip to Illinois this weekend.

The Comets trailed, 2-1, at intermission after giving up goals early and late in the first half. David Clark put the Thunder on the board just 5:25 into the game on a shot just in front of the net. But UTD's Danny Meyer evened the score at 1-1 10 minutes later, punching in a shot from 15-feet out. Wheaton, though, regained the lead with just 4:27 left in the half as Drew Shay picked up a rebound and slipped it in past UTD keeper Joe Weber.

The Thunder was able to stretch its lead to 3-1 with less than nine minutes left when Ben Bakke escaped on a counter attack after a Comet turnover deep in the Wheaton zone. Comet goalkeeper Joe Weber, who made two spectacular saves in the game, had no chance against Bakke's one-on-one rush up the middle.

UTD cut the score down to one at the 87:39 mark when Daalton McFarling emerged from a scramble in front of the Wheaton net to put a boot on the ball and make it 3-2. The Comets did not get another chance, though, as the Thunder ran out the clock by maintaining possession.

The Comets had a handful of other scoring opportunities early, including a pair of promising shots from freshman Alfredo Kaegi which sailed high.

UTD returns to action against another nationally-ranked foe Saturday when they meet No. 23 University of Chicago at 1 pm.