BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Chris Wheeler (Newcastle, Australia/St. Francis Xavier) recorded two goals to power Mount St. Mary's past Long Island 3-1 in Northeast Conference (NEC) men's soccer action on Friday.

Wheeler notched two tallies in the first 39 minutes of the contest to help the Mount (7-6-0, 3-1-0 NEC) to its best start to the league slate since 2000 when the squad opened up NEC play 3-0-1. The Mountaineers also started 3-1-0 in conference in 1989, 1990 and 1999. Wheeler now has 10 goals and one assists for 21 points this season.

Vinnie Berry (Helensburgh, Scotland/St. Patrick's) tallied a goal and an assist while Chris Davis (Townsville, Australia/Kirwan State) made three saves in the winning effort.

Peter Huijgen posted the lone goal for the Blackbirds (8-6-0, 3-2-0) on a penalty kick and Adam Janssen turned away three shots in the loss.

Mount St. Mary's got its Brooklyn weekend against the two teams tied for the top spot in the NEC off on the right foot thanks to the fast start by Wheeler. Long Island and St. Francis (N.Y.) came into play on Friday tied for first. The Mountaineers will play the Terriers on Sunday. Game time is 1 p.m.

Wheeler converted a penalty kick at the 17:19 mark to hand the Mount a 1-0 advantage. The freshman then headed in a corner kick serve from Berry at 38:42 to increase the margin to two goals going into halftime.

Huijgen knocked home a penalty kick of his own at 78:11 to trim the deficit to 2-1 with 11:49 remaining, but Berry sealed the victory with his first goal of the season off a helper from Gary Phinith (Gaithersburg, Md./Magruder) with three seconds remaining.

After Huijgen cut the margin to one goal, Long Island could only muster a corner kick in the 88 minute, but did not register a shot the rest of the way.