DEKALB, Ill. – Sophomore Max Voss (Huls, Germany/Staedtisches Gymnasium Herten) scored his second goal of the season as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw with UIC on Tuesday night at the NIU Soccer Complex.

Freshman goalkeeper Christoph Koninger (Achern, Germany/Gymnasium Achern) saw his first action in goal for the Huskies and made 11 saves.

"This didn't look like a typical midweek, non-conference game," said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. "I think both teams were up for the game. Both teams had stretches when we were both on the front-foot, and over the last 15 minutes of regulation and overtime it was a grind for both teams.

"We asked the guys for a response after our performance last week (at IUPUI). I feel pretty good that we got that. We are disappointed that we didn't get all three points, I'm sure UIC will say the same thing, but I thought we had a couple of chances to maybe give us all three points."

In the 17th minute, a good spell of possession for the Huskies led the a chance that sophomore Nicholas Haas (Waukegan, Ill./Warren Township) put just wide. Moments later it was the Flames who were on the front-foot with a trio of corner kicks and a pair of shots that forced saves from Koninger, including an excellent reaction save on his line as the game remained scoreless.

NIU (1-5-3) created an opportunity in the 26th minute as a cross from freshman Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek) found senior Cody Witkowski (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) near the edge of the box. Witkowski's header was right at UIC goalkeeper Andrew Putna who made the save.

The Huskies went in front two minutes later. Off a throw-in near the corner flag, sophomore Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) played a combination with junior Jerome Roche (Salon-de-Provence, France/Gardner-Webb) who played the ball to Voss. The sophomore from Germany unleashed a shot from 15 yards past a helpless Putna in goal for the Flames, giving NIU a 1-0 lead, an advantage it would take into the intermission.

NIU and UIC (4-5-2) exchanged chances early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Todd forced Koninger into his first save of the second 45 minutes. Less than a minute later, the Huskies immediately went on the attack the other way and Molina fired a shot over the crossbar.

The Flames equalized just before the hour mark. A NIU foul 30 yards from goal gave UIC an opportunity from a free kick. Todd lined up the free kick and fooled Koninger, finding the net for the fifth time this season to pull UIC level, 1-1, in the 59th minute.

Six minutes after the tying goal, NIU was back on the attack as a chance fell to sophomore Noe Ochoa (Pasadena, Texas/Pasadena Memorial), but it was smothered by Putna.

NIU was unable to capitalize on a trio of corners just before the 70th minute and, two minutes later, Koninger was called upon to make a pair of stops to keep the contest even, 1-1.

Neither goalkeeper was forced into another save until the waning moments of regulation when Todd fired a long distance attempt at the Huskie goal that Koninger was able to easily save, sending the contest into overtime.

The Huskies had more of the ball in the first extra period. A pair of corners led to chances for Rodriguez and senior Albert Levett (Southend-on-Sea, England/Belfairs High), but both efforts missed the target. Voss had a chance in the 96th minute with a header, but it was held by Putna as the contest went into a second overtime.

UIC applied most of the pressure in the final 10 minutes as Koninger had to make a trio of stops, including a 108th minute save of a free kick from Todd. With less than 30 seconds to play, Voss tried to net the winner for the Huskies but his off-balance effort went wide as NIU and UIC played to a 1-1 draw.

"Many stretches of tonight's game looked exactly like what Saturday and the rest of our MAC games will look like," said Luzzi. "There will be good soccer, because there are many good teams in our conference, but at times it will be a grind and a battle of wills."

NIU will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, when the Huskies open Mid-American Conference play at Western Michigan. Game time against the Broncos is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT.