MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Senior Richard Hall (Billericay, England/The Billericay School) scored in the 85th minute to lift the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory at Milwaukee on Wednesday night as the Huskies reclaimed the LeWang Trophy for the first time since 2010. Sophomore Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) scored late in the first half to pull the Huskies even after the Panthers had opened the scoring.

"I'm so happy for our guys, we finally caught a break," said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. "We have had a lot of those breaks go against us in the first six games, so I was really happy that they persevered and kept plugging away. Certainly Milwaukee is going to feel a bit hard done by but I am happy for our guys and they definitely deserved the win."

Matthias Binder for Milwaukee forced the first save of the contest in the seventh minute as his shot from outside the box forced NIU goalkeeper Drew Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) down to his right to make the save.

In the 19th minute, combination play from the Panthers down the left wing led to a chance that had to be cleared away by the NIU backline. Donnally was called on four minutes later to make a stop on a shot by Reid Stevenson as Milwaukee had more of the ball in the early going.

Milwaukee (2-4-1) opened the scoring in the 25th minute on a goal by Nick Moon. The Panthers quickly countered a NIU attack with Francesco Saporito playing the ball to Moon on the right side. His shot from the angle skipped off the wet turf and through Donnally to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, NIU started to see more of the ball. Junior Giovanni Garcia (Chicago, Ill./Elk Grove) made a cut inside and tested Milwaukee goalkeeper Sam Glass in the 29th minute, Glass was able to comfortably take the shot with his hands.

NIU (1-4-2) equalized in the 42nd minute on Rodriguez's second goal of the season. Hall played the ball inside to Rodriguez who took a few touches toward goal and unleashed a 35-yard shot that found the top corner of the net to pull the Huskies even just minutes before the intermission.

Just three minutes after the intermission, a cross from freshman Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek) deflected off a Panther and off the post as the Huskies nearly took a lead early in the second half.

Quick passes down the left side led to a chance for the Huskies in the 66th minute, but sophomore Nicholas Haas' (Waukegan, Ill./Warren Township) cross was claimed by Glass.

The best opportunity for the Panthers in the second half came in the 73rd minute after a handball on the Huskies led to a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box. NIU was able clear the danger from the free kick as the score remained tied.

Neither the Huskies nor Panthers had registered a shot on target in the second half until Hall's goal in the 85th minute. Milwaukee was whistled for a foul just inside the its half and Hall floated the free kick toward goal and it slid through the Panther goalkeeper's hand and across the line for a goal to give NIU a 2-1 lead and the LeWang Trophy.

Named in honor of former Milwaukee assistant and NIU head coach John LeWang, the Huskies and Panthers meet annually for the LeWang Trophy. LeWang came to NIU as head coach in 1980 following his time as an assistant at Milwaukee and died in a car accident after his first season leading the Huskies. Since 1981, the two teams have played for a trophy named in his honor.

The Huskies will return to action next Wednesday, Sept. 28, as they travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to meet IUPUI. Game time against the Jaguars is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.