Final Stats

DEKALB, Ill. -- An 80th minute goal from Jay McIntosh led Western Michigan to a 1-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University men’s soccer team on Saturday night at the NIU Soccer Complex. With the loss the Huskies fall to 7-6-1 on the season, 1-2-1 in league play.

“On the whole we played quite well,” said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. “Western Michigan is a good team and over the 90 minutes there really wasn’t an ounce of difference between the two teams. They had one moment and made a play. We had a couple of chances to make our plays and we were unfortunate in those moments, but on the whole it was a solid performance.”

NIU created the first real chance of the contest in the 18th minute as a shot from close range by freshman Giovanni Pacheco (Pasadena, Texas/Pasadena) was just tipped away by Western Michigan goalkeeper Drew Shepherd for a corner kick.

In the 34th minute, Western Michigan had its first opportunity to test NIU goalkeeper Andrew Glaeser (Walla Walla, Wash./Walla Walla/Oregon State). A rising shot from Carlos Suarez from just outside the box was held by the Huskie senior goalkeeper as the game remained scoreless.

With just over two minutes to play before the intermission, sophomore Luke Read (Ilford, England/Barking Abbey School) got his head to a long throw that forced Shepherd to clear the ball behind for a corner kick, but the corner came to nothing as the Huskies and Broncos finished the first 45 minute scoreless.

After the break, NIU started the better of the two sides. Sophomore Nicolas Wandl (Tulln, Austria/University of Vienna) sent a dangerous cross into the box in the 51st minute but senior Bertrand Gaschot (Austin, Texas/Westwood) could only head the cross over the bar.

Two minutes later, good buildup play from the Huskies led to a chance for Wandl. His shot from a tight angle was blocked away by Shepherd.

In the 69th minute, Western Michigan earned a free kick just outside the box and Glaeser was called upon to make a fantastic diving save. Nick Wysong took the free kick for the Broncos and Glaeser did well to dive to his right and push the ball over the top of the goal.

Just two minutes later, Glaeser was called upon again as Connor Furgason’s header off another Bronco free kick forced a save from the Huskie goalkeeper as the game remained scoreless.

Western Michigan finally broke the deadlock in the 80th minute courtesy of McIntosh. After a throw-in deep in the corner, Edu Jimenez connected with Greg Timmer and the Huskies appealed for a handball call. The call didn’t come and Timmer crossed to McIntosh who was all alone in the box and smashed home a shot past a helpless Glaeser to give the Broncos the lead.

In the final 10 minutes the Huskies were unable to test Shepherd as Western Michigan held on for the victory and clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Glaeser and Shepherd both finished with four saves in the contest.

NIU will close the regular season next Friday, Nov. 6, as the Huskies travel to Morgantown, W. Va., to face West Virginia in the conference finale. Game time against the Mountaineers is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.