Oct. 20, 2007
Final Stats
DeKalb, Ill. - Despite getting more shots on goal than Buffalo, the Northern Illinois men's soccer team couldn't find the back of the net in overtime, losing 2-1. The Bulls improve to 9-3-2, 3-0-0 in Mid-American Conference play while the Huskies fall to 4-6-4, 1-1-1.
The Huskies totaled 16 shots compared to Buffalo's six, but only junior Chris Johnson's (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Stevenson / Yavapai C.C.) shot in the 33rd minute got by the Bulls' goalkeeper Daniel Bell, who totaled six saves.
"When you don't convert opportunities, you set yourself up for an upset," said NIU head coach Steve Simmons. "Today was an upset. We were by far the superior team, but like in any sport, if you let a team hang around, things like this happen."
Huskie junior goalkeeper Joe Zimka (Algonquin, Ill. / Jacobs) tallied three saves, giving up two goals to Buffalo's Dan Bulley. Bulley's first goal came in the 25th minute and his second came in overtime to end the game in the 94th minute.
"We need goal support," said Simmons. "We left too many shots that were not telling shots for this team. We have good attacking players that are creating chances to score, but we are not converting on those chances. Finishing is everything and we couldn't finish today. Buffalo's good enough to hang around and they did and ended up getting the win."
The Huskies play next on Wednesday, October 24 at home against Northwestern at 3 p.m.
-NIU
