DEKALB, Ill. – Juniors Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) and Noah Brodie (Scottsdale, Ariz./Carbondale Community) were both on the scoresheet as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fell to Valparaiso, 3-2, on Tuesday night in its final non-conference match. 

"I thought we started the game okay, but we weren't very good to finish the half," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Defensively, when we look at both (first half) goals, it wasn't good on our part. Konrad (Dziedzic) saved us at the end of the first half with a couple of big saves.

"In the second half, the guys on refocused. We addressed a couple of the tactical things that I probably got wrong in the first half and that allowed us a little more success. At the end of the day, we dug ourselves a hole again and it is difficult to get out of it."

NIU (3-7) had the first two looks at goal in the contest but neither threatened Valparaiso goalkeeper Alex Richt. 

The Crusaders opened the scoring in the 20th minute as Jonas Engler scored his second goal of the season. Engler cut in toward goal from the left side near the top of the box and curled a shot inside the far post to give Valparaiso a 1-0 lead. 

Valparaiso (5-5-1) continued to apply pressure following the goal as Akeem Bradford had a pair of shot, one of which needed a save from sophomore goalkeeper Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./East Leyden).

The Huskies evened the match in the 28th minute as Rodriguez found the back of the net. Dribbling through midfield, the Huskie junior unleashed a rocket from 30 yards past a helpless Engler to bring NIU level.

It took Valparaiso just 62 second to respond however as Adan Garcia scored to give the Crusaders a 2-1 lead. Jake Pesek whipped in a cross from the right side and Garcia rose highest to meet it inside the six-yard box, beating Dziedzic to give the lead back to Valparaiso. 

In the 42nd minute, junior Max Voos (Herten, Germany/Staedtisches Gymnasium Herten) whistled a shot just high of the Valparaiso goal. Moments later, the Crusaders were on the front-foot and Michael Marchionna found himself in alone on Dziedzic who made a pair of spectacular saves to keep the Huskies within a goal at the interval. 

Both teams were slow out of the gates in the second half. NIU had a dangerous chance off a free kick right on the edge of the Valparaiso box in the 73rd minute, but the free kick was skied harmlessly high and wide. 

Two minute later the Crusaders doubled their advantage. Rafael Mentzingen created space for himself down the left side, cutting in toward goal and firing a shot into the net from off the far post to give Valparaiso a 3-1 lead. 

In the 80th minute NIU pulled a goal back. Dziedzic took a free kick from just inside the NIU half and Brodie climbed the highest in the box, heading it past Richt to bring the Huskies back within a goal. 

NIU's only attempt at goal in the final 10 minute came on a long distance effort from sophomore Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek) that went well high as Valparaiso left DeKalb with a 3-2 victory. 

Dziedzic finished the match with four saves for the Huskies. 

NIU will now turn its attention to Mid-American Conference play as the Huskies open their league slate this Saturday, Oct. 7, at West Virginia. Game time against the Mountaineers is slated for 6 p.m. CT.