DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fel in its final home match of the regular season 1-0 to SIU Edwardsville in overtime on Saturday night at the NIU Soccer Complex. The game-winning goal was scored by the Cougars' Devyn Jambga in the 98th minute on a header off of a corner kick.
"I thought we had a good performance with the guys giving us a lot of what we'd been asking for," said NIU head coach
Ryan Swan. "I don't think the game was always pretty, but we battled and I think there were some positive steps taken today."
The Huskies had a couple of chances to score in regulation as junior
Max Voss (Herten, Germany/Staedtisches Gymnasium Herten) recorded two shots on goal in the first half with a long free kick and a chance in on the keeper that was defended away. Sophomore
Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Georg-Buechner Gym) had the best chance for NIU in the second half with a left-footed try just outside the 18-yard box rolled just outside the right post.
Both teams had to play a man down for the final quarter-hour of regulation and overtime as a red card was issued each way in the 74th minute. The game was physical for all 97-plus minutes as each team reached double-digit fouls with NIU committing 11 and SIUE with 10.
"I think the game got a little chippy after the red cards but it's a conference game against an in-state opponent so you're supposed to be fired up for a game like that," said Swan. "Both teams did a good job of settling down after the altercation and not letting it get out of control."
NIU sophomore goalkeeper
Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./East Leyden) kept the Huskies in the game through regulation making six saves, three in each half. Shots for each team were about even but the Cougars took five more shots than the Huskies after the first half and took the only shot in overtime on the game-winning goal from Jambga, assisted on by Keegan McHugh.
The Huskies will conclude the regular season with back-to-back road matches, beginning next Saturday night, Oct. 28, when NIU travels to Bowling Green. Game time against the Falcons is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
