OREM, Utah -- In a wild game that saw three goals scored in the final 10 minutes, the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fell to Sacramento State, 4-3, on Sunday morning. NIU pulled back a two-goal first half deficit before Sacramento State regained its two-goal lead in the second half and hung on for the victory. Sophomore Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Georg-Buechner Gym), freshman Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) and junior Noah Brodie (Scottsdale, Ariz./Carbondale Community) scored for the Huskies. 

"I think there are a lot of good things coming out of the weekend," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Obviously it is disappointing to drop today's game, but I think we have taken another step in the right direction. We were dealing with a little bit of altitude out here and had some heavy legs, I think it was just one hurdle too much to get that last goal. Now it is just about starting to focus on the LeWang Trophy on Wednesday."

Sacramento State (4-3) had an excellent opportunity to open the scoring in the 14th minute as a Hornet corner kick drifted deep to Trevor Jackson and his shot was cleared off the line by the Huskie defense. 

In the 17th minute, NIU junior Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) scooped a pass to Maertins inside the box, but Maertins dragged his shot just wide of goal. 

The Hornets opened the scoring just a minute later on a goal by Christian Webb. Justin Bedig worked his way down the right side and sent a cross to an unmarked Webb at the back post. Webb smashed a first-time volley into the back of the net to give Sacramento State a 1-0 lead. 

Sacramento State doubled its advantage in the 25th as Trevor Jackson converted from the penalty spot to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.  

Both teams had chances in the final minutes before halftime as NIU junior Noe Ochoa (Pasadena, Texas/Pasadena Memorial) had a header that went wide for NIU in the 42nd minute and Cylus Sandoval forced a save from NIU goalkeeper Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./East Leyden) a minute later. 

With just four seconds to play in the opening half, Maertins cut the Sacramento State lead in half. A long diagonal ball from midfield by Brodie found Maertins on the edge of the box. Maertins took a touch before lashing a shot over the head of Sacramento State goalkeeper James Del Curto into the back of the net to trim the Hornet lead to 2-1 at the half. 

After the interval, NIU (3-4) pulled level in the 52nd minute on a goal by Welch. Sophomore Logan Hatter (Avon, Ind./Avon) collected the ball for the Huskies in their own half, finding junior Max Voss (Herten, Germany/Staedtisches Gymnasium Herten) on the wing. Voss played the ball into the run of Welch who beat Del Curto low to the near post to pull the Huskies even. 

Freshman Sheriden Smith (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) whipped in a cross toward Maertins in the 69th minute but the Huskie sophomore couldn't direct his header on target as the game remained tied going into the final 20 minutes. 

Sacramento State regained the lead in the 80th minute on a header from Bedig. The Hornets sent a cross in from the right side and NIU's defensive header went right to Bedig who headed the ball into the net to give Sacramento State a 3-2 lead. 

The Huskies went right back on the front foot looking for a tying goal. In the 82nd minute, sophomore Ethan Pitre (Minneapolis, Minn./Prairie Seeds Academy) had a shot that took a deflection and just missed the far post. 

With NIU pushing for an equalizer, Sacramento State caught the Huskies on the counter for a fourth goal. Omar Jiron found Brad Bumgarner in front of goal and his shot just slipped underneath Dziedzic and was tapped in by Bedig to give the Hornets a 4-2 lead. 

NIU went right back on the attack after the goal and Brodie brought the Huskies back within a goal in the 85th minute. Maertins played the ball to Welch down the wing and Welch sent a low cross to Brodie for the finish to cut the Sacramento State lead to 4-3, but the Huskies were unable to find another goal in the final five minutes as Sacramento State hung on for the victory. 

Dziedzic made three saves in goal for NIU; Del Curto also had three saves for Sacramento State. 

NIU will return to action on Wednesday night, Sept. 20, when the Huskies host Milwaukee in the annual matchup for the LeWang Trophy.