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NIU Footie | Fall 2019
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Cool NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Huskies Announce 2019 Schedule

Quote:DEKALB, IL – Seven regular season home games and four matches against NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago highlight the 2019 NIU men's soccer schedule announced on Monday (June 17) by head coach Ryan Swan.

Following a trio of exhibition matches against USL League One side Forward Madison FC (Aug. 18), IUPUI (Aug. 23) and Detroit Mercy (Aug. 25), the Huskies will open the regular season on Friday, August 30 when they visit DePaul.

After opening with the Blue Demons, NIU will be back on the road to continue a season-opening stretch of four of the first five away from home when they travel to Loyola Chicago on Sunday, September 1. The regular season home opener will be on Friday, September 6 against Green Bay before the Huskies visit Dayton on Monday, September 9, in the first match between the two teams since 2006. The season-opening, five-game stretch will conclude with a trip to Marquette on Friday, September 13.

The Huskies will host Bradley for the first time since 2009 when the Braves come to DeKalb on Sunday, September 15. Following a trip to Purdue Fort Wayne (Friday, Sept. 20), NIU will look to retain the Lewang Trophy when it hosts Milwaukee on Tuesday, September 24. The Huskies captured the traveling trophy with a 2-1 victory in Milwaukee last season.

A pair of road games at Western Illinois (Saturday, Sept. 28) and defending Horizon League Tournament champion UIC (Tuesday, Oct. 1), will be followed by a visit to DeKalb from St. Mary's on Saturday, October 5. The Gaels won the West Coast Conference in 2018 and finished the season with an 18-0-2 record, bowing out of the NCAA Tournament in the third round to Stanford on penalties.

The Huskies will host Eastern Illinois (Tuesday, Oct. 8) in their final non-conference match before opening league play on Saturday, October 12, when they host SIU Edwardsville.

NIU's first conference road match sends the Huskies to West Virginia to meet the defending Mid-American Conference regular season champion Mountaineers on Friday, October 18.

Western Michigan visits DeKalb for the regular season home finale on Friday, October 25 before the Huskies travel to Akron on Saturday, November 2. The Huskies beat the Zips last season, 2-1, snapping a 15-game winless streak against the Zips before Akron went on to reach the NCAA College Cup Final, before falling to Stanford.

A trip to Bowling Green on Saturday, November 9 will close the 2019 regular season with the MAC Tournament slated to begin the following weekend.

For the second consecutive season, all six schools will make the MAC Tournament with quarterfinals played on Tuesday, November 12 and the semifinals and final on Friday, November 15 and Sunday, November 17, both hosted by the conference regular season champion.

2019 NIU Men's Soccer Schedule/Results
06-17-2019 06:23 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Men’s Soccer Begins 2019 Preseason

Quote:DEKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team, under the direction of third-year head coach Ryan Swan, took to the field for its first practice of the fall on Wednesday (Aug. 14). The Huskies are coming off an eight-win campaign in 2018, the most victories for the program in a season since 2011.

NIU will have just five days of practice before it begins a three-match exhibition slate on Monday, August 19, at USL League One side Forward Madison FC. The Huskies will then travel to IUPUI on Friday, August 23, before hosting Detroit Mercy in their final exhibition on Sunday, August 25.

NIUHuskies.com checked in with Swan to discuss the beginning of the preseason.

What was your impression of your first practice this morning?

It was a pretty good first session, the guys are in shape for the most part, it looks like most of them have been playing or training throughout the summer, so I was happy with the condition they have come back in. The work rate was good, the desire to win and compete was good. There are obviously some things that we thought we would have to work on this preseason and we saw some of those areas as well, but as far as coming in, competing and being in shape, that was all there and we are very happy with that.

Where do you think the program is as you head into this season?

We were pretty young last year and losing Kevin Rodriguez is a hit to the offensive talents we have (from last season) but bringing back so many young players who now have a year, or two years, of experience under their belt is going to be good. If everyone improves, which if we have done our job as coaches they should have improved at least a little bit, and we get that collective improvement we hope to take another step or two forward from where we were last year.

What is most important to get accomplished between now and the beginning of the regular season?

Obviously getting through preseason injury-free, or as healthy as possible, is the top priority. Then just hammering in the principles of how we want to play and what the expectations of the coaching staff are for the guys. If we can get those things in, and the guys know exactly what we are asking of them, the style of play we are looking for, and if we are healthy, then I quite like the look of us heading into the DePaul game (the regular season opener on Aug. 30).

Following a five-win improvement last season, what has to happen to take another step forward?

From a results perspective, we were a game shy of having a winning record (last season), so having a winning record and advancing further in the postseason are the two obvious goals that are there. For us to achieve that, there are things from both a tactical and technical perspective that needed work and those have been a focus both in the spring and now in the preseason. If we can improve those things, the results should follow.

The Mid-American Conference was ranked third in the RPI last season, behind only the ACC and Pac 12, having been in the league now for two years, what is it that makes this league so difficult?

The quality of the teams and the players makes it very challenging and with so few teams, there are only six of us, those last five games (the conference games), with everyone having access to the same scouting information and being very familiar with each other by the time those games come around, there is so much riding on every game. Every game feels like a cup final. There is a lot of competition, a lot of good players and some rivalries that seem to add just a little more to every game.

What do you see being the strengths of your team this year?

The biggest thing we have going for us is the character of the team. That is one of the things we have spent a lot of time on, developing a culture where guys can come in and feel comfortable expressing themselves on and off the field. I truly believe the guys are bought in to succeeding for each other and as long as they are working toward that I think that we will be a very difficult team to beat. Hopefully that has grown from last year, I believe it has, we have brought in good players and good personalities to further strengthen us on the culture side.

Kevin Rodriguez became the first NIU player taken in the Major League Soccer Draft this past offseason and several current players had success playing in various places over the summer. What have those things done to increase the profile of the program?

Kevin getting drafted was huge for the perception of our team, it showed the pathway that can come through NIU, from the youth level and then to the professional level. As you mentioned, the guys had a lot of success over the summer and I think that several of our players are on the radar of professional teams as they continue to progress. For the guys here, there is excitement about what can happen after NIU, they are bought in and focused on what they are doing now, but there is a real possibility that we will have several players going to play in the professional ranks. I think they recognize it and seeing what Kevin went through was good for them to see what they need to do to prepare themselves as well.
08-15-2019 11:09 AM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Huskies Play Forward Madison FC to 2-2 Exhibition Draw

Quote:MADISON, WI – Senior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) and sophomore Miguel Maynez Jr. (El Paso, Texas/New Mexico) were both on the scoresheet as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team opened its preseason schedule with a 2-2 draw against Forward Madison FC of USL League One on Monday afternoon (Aug. 19) at Breese Stevens Field.

"There were a lot of really positive things today, so overall we are happy," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Obviously this was a very good team we were playing against and for large portions we controlled how it was going, so it was good. Our possession was good, we created a lot of really good chances, we saw some things we need to work on, but it was a satisfactory first day out."

It took the Huskies just 10 minutes to open the scoring as a cross sophomore Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) found its way to Maertins in the box and the senior striker made no mistake, finishing from about 12 yards for what proved to be the only goal of the opening 45 minutes.

After the intermission, Forward Madison leveled the contest in the 69th minute on a shot that appeared to be heading wide until it took a big deflection and wrong-footed NIU senior goalkeeper Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./West Virginia).

NIU went back in front in the 76th minute as junior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) sliced open the Forward Madison defense with a ball into the stride of Maynez who slotted it home to give the Huskies a 2-1 advantage.

With the final kick of the ball, Forward Madison earned itself a share of the points, taking advantage of a Huskie turnover to level the contest at 2-2 just before the final whistle.

NIU will return to the field on Friday, August 23, as the Huskies travel to Indianapolis, Ind., for their second contest when they face IUPUI. Game time against the Jaguars is slated for 1 p.m.
08-22-2019 10:33 AM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
This is like if the baseball team hung with a team in the low minors in the spring.

Even if the USL team was playing backups, it's an encouraging way to start the year.
08-22-2019 11:16 AM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
https://twitter.com/NIUMSoccer/status/11...5035203584


Huskies Ready for Final Two Exhibitions

Quote:DEKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team will play a pair of exhibition matches this weekend as its final preparation for the beginning of the 2019 regular season. The Huskies head to Indianapolis to face IUPUI on Friday, August 23, at 1 p.m., before welcoming Detroit Mercy to DeKalb on Sunday, August 25, at 2 p.m.

NIU took to the field for the first time in 2019 on Monday (Aug. 19) as the Huskies played to a 2-2 draw against Forward Madison FC of USL League One. Senior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) and sophomore Miguel Maynez Jr. (El Paso, Texas/New Mexico) tallied the goals for NIU against the third division professional side.

"Obviously we want to see improvement from Monday's game, which was okay," said NIU men's soccer head coach Ryan Swan of his goals for this weekend's matches. "We are breaking down the video and will be going over with the guys what we think could be better. Some of our defensive principles will be our biggest focus, looking to deny (offensive) opportunities against us. Hopefully we will see that when we get on the field tomorrow and Sunday."

IUPUI will also be playing its second exhibition of the fall on Friday as the Jaguars fell to Dayton, 2-0, in their first outing. Detroit Mercy will be making its second trip of the preseason to Chicagoland when the Titans come to DeKalb on Sunday, having played to a 1-1 draw against DePaul last Sunday (Aug. 18).

Following its two exhibition contests this weekend, NIU will open the regular season at DePaul on Friday, August 30. Kickoff against the Blue Demons is slated for 4 p.m.
08-23-2019 10:53 AM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
08-23-2019 01:23 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Two MAC Men's Soccer teams start the season ranked in the College Soccer News preseason poll. Akron (which NIU defeated last season) comes in at #3 and West Virginia comes in at #20.

https://www.collegesoccernews.com/index....ional-poll

Hopefully, we'll see NIU start climbing the polls during the season.
08-23-2019 01:49 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
In the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, Akron comes in at #3 (just two points behind the #2 spot and 16 points behind the Top spot) and West Virginia comes in at #23.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men...er-coaches
08-23-2019 02:52 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Last season, the MAC had the 3rd highest RPI in the country. It is an excellent soccer conference.
08-23-2019 02:57 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
(08-23-2019 02:57 PM)HuskieDave Wrote:  Last season, the MAC had the 3rd highest RPI in the country. It is an excellent soccer conference.

Yes, one may say it's a Power Conference. 07-coffee3
08-23-2019 03:14 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Huskies Top Detroit Mercy in Preseason Finale

Quote:DEKALB, IL – Sophomore Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) scored the lone goal in the 81st minute as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team defeated Detroit Mercy, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at the NIU Soccer Complex in the final exhibition match of the preseason.

Redshirt senior Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./West Virginia) and redshirt freshman Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) each made three saves in 45 minutes of action to combine for the clean sheet.

"We have talked about having a winning mentality, so it was almost essential to get a win (to close the preseason)," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I think we have played well in the three (preseason) games. We have seen the things we need to work on, we have cleaned up some things and I think we are in pretty good shape going into DePaul."

The Huskies held a 59 percent edge in possession in the opening 45 minutes but were unable to break the deadlock. Redshirt freshman Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) and sophomore Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) each sailed a good chance over the bar in the first half as the contest went to the intermission scoreless.

After the break, NIU's edge in possession increased but it was Detroit that came closest to opening the scoring as Garret Weaver flicked a header off the crossbar in the 74th minute. Seven minutes later, Nick Markanich opened the scoring, finishing from near the top of the six-yard box off a low cross from Anthony Markanich for what proved to be the only goal of the match.

NIU will begin the regular season on Friday, August 30, when the Huskies visit DePaul. Kickoff against the Blue Demons is slated for 4pm.

GO NIU!

Beat DePaul.
08-26-2019 08:46 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Huskies Open Regular Season This Weekend in Chicago

Quote:DEKALB, IL -- The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team opens the 2019 regular season with a pair of matches this weekend in Chicago. The Huskies will begin the campaign on Friday, August 30, at DePaul at 4 p.m., and will then travel to Loyola Chicago on Sunday, September 1, in a match that will kickoff at 1 p.m., and be available on ESPN+.

"The guys are ready," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Tomorrow is always a little different in terms of managing the energy that comes with the first day. We had a good training session today and the guys seem focused and ready to get to it. I'm excited to get them out there and see them in real competition."

The Huskies return 18 players from 2018, including 14 that started at least one match a season ago. NIU also brings back 25 of its 28 goals scored from last year's campaign, including leading goal scorer Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) who netted eight goals, the most by a NIU freshman since 2004. Senior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) scored seven goals in 2018 and has 14 career goals as a collegian, including three as a freshman at Marquette in 2016.

Sophomore Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) tallied seven assists to lead all returnees in that category. Anthony Markanich was second on the team in assists last season behind only Kevin Rodriguez who recorded nine, Rodriguez went on to be selected by Minnesota United in the MLS SuperDraft and is currently playing with Rio Grande Valley FC in the USL Championship.

Anthony Markanich also tallied four goals last season to finish third on the team while junior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) found the back of the net three times in 2018 and has six career goals in two years as a Huskie.

Senior Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek) spent part of his summer with the El Salvador Under-23 National Team, helping them advance in CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying with a 3-1, two-leg aggregate win over Panama. Molina is the most experienced player on the NIU roster, having appeared in 45 career games, making 29 starts.

NIU returns a trio of goalkeepers with redshirt senior Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./West Virginia) being the most experienced, having started 28 career games, including 17 a season ago. Senior Christoph Köninger (Achern, Germany/Gymnasium Achern) has played in three career games, including one last year, while the third returning goalkeeper for the Huskies is redshirt freshman Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy).

The Huskies have brought in six newcomers for the 2019 season, including redshirt freshman Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) who came to NIU last spring following a semester at the University of Virginia. Banuelos is one of the three transfers that make up NIU's incoming class, along with sophomore Miguel Maynez Jr. (El Paso, Texas/New Mexico) who made 12 appearances last season at New Mexico, and junior Carlos Valdez (Houston, Texas/Richland College) who won a NJCAA Division III national championship last year at Richland College.

DePaul enters Friday's season opener having posted a 1-1-1 mark in the preseason, the Huskies and Blue Demons had one common opponent in the exhibition slate as DePaul played to a 1-1 draw against Detroit Mercy while the Huskies defeated the Titans, 1-0.

Loyola went 2-0-1 in exhibition play, posting wins over Milwaukee and Wisconsin while also playing to a draw against Marquette. The Ramblers will open the season on Friday against Vermont before meeting the Huskies on Sunday to close the weekend.

"I'm not sure if (playing local opponents) will intensify the energy that will be there for opening weekend," said Swan. "But certainly, we are familiar with DePaul, our guys are familiar with them and we know that they are a good program and the same goes for Loyola. I think they will be two different games stylistically, but they should both be exciting games."

NIU will return home on Friday, September 6, when the Huskies welcome Green Bay to DeKalb for the home opener. Kickoff against the Phoenix is slated for 7 p.m.
08-30-2019 10:09 AM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Luckily, for those who can't wait 8 days for NIU Football to kickoff...

SEASON OPENING KICKOFF for NIU Footie (soccer) is TODAY!

GO NIU!

Beat DePaul.

https://twitter.com/NIUMSoccer/status/11...9108841473
08-30-2019 10:34 AM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Huskies Host Green Bay in Regular Season Home Opener

Quote:DEKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team hosts Green Bay on Friday night, September 6, in its regular season home opener. Please note that kickoff against the Phoenix is slated for 6pm, one hour earlier than its originally scheduled time.

Free pizza, courtesy of Vinny's Pizza, will be provided to the first 100 NIU students showing their OneCard and admission to all NIU Soccer matches is free of charge. With the DeKalb-Sycamore high school football game also scheduled for Friday night, fans attending the Huskie soccer game are encouraged to park in lot PS, across the street on the north side of the NIU Soccer Complex.

Following Friday's contest, the Huskies will close their weekend when they travel to Dayton on Monday, September 9, kickoff against the Flyers is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT.

The Huskies enter Friday's match against Green Bay on the heels of a pair of narrow losses last weekend in Chicago. NIU fell at DePaul last Friday (Aug. 30), 2-1, as sophomore Louis Sala (West Bloomfield, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) scored his first career goal for the Huskies. NIU then faced Loyola (Sept. 1) and dropped a 1-0 decision despite outshooting the Ramblers, 14-5.

"It is exciting to get back home after a disappointing opening weekend, playing two tough road games at two tough places to travel to," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Getting back on our field in front of our home crowd, the guys are excited about it and hopefully we can get a good crowd. I know there is a lot of people coming from outside the NIU community, so I'm hopeful that the NIU community will support us as well.

"The crowd last weekend at the football game was great, the student section looked great, and with football being on the road we hope our game could be a nice option for students to come out to."

Green Bay posted a 1-0-1 mark on the opening weekend of the season, playing to a 1-1 draw against Valparaiso (Aug. 30) before defeating Western Illinois, 3-1 (Sept. 1). Four different players have scored for the Phoenix while Jamison Yoder has played in goal in both matches, recording six total saves with a .750 save percentage.

The Flyers of Dayton opened the 2019 season with a pair of setbacks, falling to UIC, 3-2, in double overtime before dropping a 3-1 decision to Cal State Northridge. Federico Barrios has recorded 14 saves with a .700 save percentage while playing both matches in goal for the Flyers, whose three goals this season have all been netted by different goal scorers.

Next week, the Huskies will once again play a split weekend, beginning on Friday, September 13, when they travel to Milwaukee to meet Marquette before hosting Bradley on Sunday, September 15.
09-06-2019 05:19 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
https://twitter.com/NIUMSoccer/status/11...0981238787


GO NIU!

Beat Green Bay (unlike the Bears).
(This post was last modified: 09-06-2019 05:22 PM by NorthCoast.)
09-06-2019 05:21 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Anyone in, or near, DeKalb get out there!

https://twitter.com/NIURedRiot/status/11...8271598593
09-06-2019 06:06 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
First Half Goals Lead Huskies Past Bradley

Quote:DEKALB, IL – Goals from senior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) and sophomore Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) three minutes apart in the first half helped lift the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Bradley on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 15) at the NIU Soccer Complex.

"We have been playing well, with the exception of Friday night, and the thought was that the win was coming, we were playing well. But I think we showed today that you actually have to dig in, you are not going to just get wins because you play well," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I was happy with the way the guys, after we gave up a disappointing goal, gritted in and managed the game pretty well. I thought the first 45 (minutes) was excellent, and it was great to get that first win."

Chances were few and far between for both sides in the opening half-hour as the Huskies and Braves were deadlocked entering the final 15 minutes of the opening half.

It was the Huskies who would find the breakthrough in the 32nd minute as Maertins opened the scoring. Junior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) began the attack down the left side for the Huskies as he found Nick Markanich moving his way into the box. Nick Markanich cut the ball back from near the end line to a streaking Maertins who powered a shot past Bradley goalkeeper Nathan Wisbey to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

The goal helped to spring the NIU attack to life as, just a minute later, it was Maertins playing provider, finding senior Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek) in the box for a shot that was well held by Wisbey.

Nick Markanich then doubled the Huskie lead in the 34th minute with his second goal in as many games. Sophomore Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) found his twin brother, Nick, in space inside the box and Nick Markanich made no mistake, slipping a shot past Wisbey to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead that they would take into the intermission.

After the break, it was the Huskies that started the brighter of the two side, controlling possession and threatening to add a third. Wisbey made a stop on a shot by Nick Markanich in the 52nd minute as NIU piled on the pressure but was unable to get a third goal.

Bradley's first chance of the second half fell to Devin Slingsby in the 58th minute as he created just enough space for himself on the edge of the box to fire a shot that went just wide of the near post.

Five minutes later the Braves cut the NIU lead in half on a goal by David Schulte Sudhoff. Off a Bradley throw-in in the attacking third, the Huskie defense was able to half-clear the ball toward the top of the box where Sudhoff was waiting to strike it on the volley, past NIU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) to trim the NIU lead to 2-1.

In the 73rd minute, NIU was back on the front-foot as Anthony Markanich fired a shot from 20 yards that went just wide.

Bradley looked for an equalizer in the final quarter-hour but the Huskies held the Braves without a shot in the game's final minutes as NIU earned the 2-1 victory.

Sanchez, who was making his first collegiate start, picked up his first career victory. Wisbey made four saves in goal for the Braves.

NIU will return to action next Friday night, September 20, when the Huskies travel to Purdue Fort Wayne, kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
09-16-2019 12:57 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
09-20-2019 05:44 PM
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RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Huskies Storm Back to Down PurDONT Fort Wayne

Quote:FORT WAYNE, IN – After conceding the first goal of the match, senior Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek), sophomore Miguel Maynez Jr. (El Paso, Texas/New Mexico) and sophomore Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) each found the back of the net as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team earned a 3-1, comeback victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday night (Sept. 20) at the Hefner Soccer Complex.

"We started out pretty brightly, I think our scouting report on (Purdue) Fort Wayne was spot on, we were pretty comfortable with what we were going to face, so it was a little frustrating to give up the first goal," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "It came from a couple of mistakes on our part, so to concede from a set piece was frustrating.

"But the guys kept their composure, I thought they played really well for the remainder of the first half, and as the game went on, we were just creating more and more chances. Christian Molina was excellent today, he deserved his goal, and I pretty confident that once we got onto level terms that we would create more chances."

NIU (2-4-1) was on the front-foot right from the opening kickoff and the Huskies could have taken the lead in the fourth minute when Molina had a chance that went high from about 10 yards.

The Huskies nearly went in front in the 19th minute when Molina clipped a cross toward the back post where sophomore Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) got on the end of it but Purdue Fort Wayne goalkeeper Tor Erik Larsen was able to scramble it away.

Purdue Fort Wayne (3-4-0) opened the scoring against the run of play in the 23rd minute. The Mastodons earned a free kick just on the corner of the box and Emil Fosse sent the free kick inside the six-yard box where Alex Frank powered a free header past NIU redshirt freshman goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) to give Purdue Fort Wayne a 1-0 lead.

NIU leveled the match in the 34th minute on Molina's third career goal. Sophomore Adrian Corona (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) slipped a ball into the path of Molina who turned and took a couple of touches into the box before firing a shot past Larsen to even the contest from about 10 yards out.

Maynez nearly added a second for the Huskies in the 42nd minute as he carved his way through the Purdue Fort Wayne defense before seeing his shot saved by the feet of Larsen.

The Huskies had two more opportunities in the opening 45 minutes with redshirt freshman Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) and Nick Markanich both forcing saves from Larsen as NIU and Purdue Fort Wayne went into the interval tied, 1-1.

It took NIU less than two minutes after the intermission to go in front. Junior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) sliced open the Mastodon defense with a ball from midfield that was flicked by Banuelos toward Maynez Jr. who played a one-two with Molina before the transfer from New Mexico tucked a shot inside the back post to put the Huskies in front.

The Huskies continued to pile on the pressure as Welch nearly curled a shot into the net in the 49th minute.

NIU did double its advantage in the 62nd minute as Maynez Jr. flicked a ball over the top of a Purdue Fort Wayne defender and into the run of Nick Markanich who made no mistake from just inside the box, beating Larsen for his third goal in as many games to give the Huskies a 3-1 advantage.

The one-way traffic continued as Molina nearly added his second in the 68th minute with a low shot that was turned away by Larsen. Off the resulting corner kick, Anthony Markanich was also stopped by Larsen.

Anthony Markanich had another chance in the 83rd minute as he dribbled his way into space and fired just wide Larsen who was at full stretch.

The Mastodons nearly got a consolation goal in the 86th minute as, off a second ball from a corner, Dominik Hils rattled the bottom side of the crossbar, but the ball stayed out and the Huskies earned the 3-1 road victory.

Sanchez finished the contest with one save for NIU; Larsen made nine stops for Purdue Fort Wayne. The Huskies held a 27-8 edge in total shots in the contest.

NIU will return home on Tuesday night, September 24, as the Huskies took to retain the Lewang Trophy when they host Milwaukee. Kickoff against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m., and admission to all NIU Soccer games is free of charge.
09-20-2019 10:57 PM
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Post: #20
RE: NIU Footie | Fall 2019
Ladies won last night as well, defeating Marquette out of the Big East.

https://twitter.com/NIUWomensSoccer/stat...0225969153
09-21-2019 10:04 AM
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