DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team overturned a 1-0 halftime deficit to beat Akron, 2-1, behind goals from freshman Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) and junior Irvin Dominguez (El Paso, Texas/Richland College) on Saturday night at the NIU Soccer Complex. The victory was NIU's first against the Zips since 2006, snapping a 15-match winless streak against Akron.

"The guys were exceptional," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I thought they stuck to the game plan and there wasn't a poor performance from any of our guys, delighted with the result.

"To come back from 2-0 against Drake (on Tuesday, to get a 2-2 tie), I think was a learning moment for the team. At halftime we were 1-0 down but I didn't think we played poorly and when we stepped on the field (for the second half), it was 'let's keep going, the chances will come,' and it was great to come back and get the result."

NIU's last win over Akron came on November 5, 2006, a 1-0 victory in the MAC Tournament Final. 

With Akron in front by a goal at the break, it took less than four minutes into the second half for the Huskies to draw even. Senior Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) hit an inch-perfect cross from the left wing to Markanich who was unmarked at the back post. The freshman made no mistake with his header past a helpless Tor Saunders in goal for the Zips in the 49th minute, tallying his eighth goal of the season.

"When things are going well for Nick he is very difficult to stop," said Swan. "I thought it was very good again tonight, created several chances and he is a goalscorer, which maybe we have been missing."

Rodriguez also picked up his team-best eighth assist of the year on the goal. 

Just before the hour mark, Markanich tried his luck again as he looked to catch Saunders off his line with a header, but there wasn't enough power behind it as the Akron goalkeeper easily claimed it. 

NIU (8-5-1, 1-2 MAC) goalkeeper Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./West Virginia) was called into action for the first time in the second half in the 77th minute, easily stopping a shot from distance by Abdi Mohamed. A minute later, Dominguez had a look at goal from a tight angle but the shot went well high.

Dominguez had another chance in the 79th minute and he gave the Huskies a 2-1 lead. The NIU midfielder created a turnover and found himself 1v1 with the Akron goalkeeper. Dominguez coolly slotted a shot into the back of the net to give the Huskies the lead on his second goal of the season. 

In the final 10-plus minutes, NIU stifled the Akron attack, limiting the Zips to just one shot, in the 90th minute, from Daniel Strachan has was easily held by Dziedzic as the Huskies picked up the come-from-behind victory. 

Dziedzic made three saves in the contest for the Huskies, Saunders had one stop in the match for the Zips. 

The opening 45 minutes of the match were extremely cagey with just six total shots combined, and only two on target. 

NIU created the first opportunity as freshman Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) headed just wide of the post off a free kick from near midfield. 

Akron (6-6-2, 0-2-1 MAC) took the lead on its first shot of the night in the 22nd minute. Skye Harter cut the ball back from near the end line and found Colin Biros in the box who finished past Dziedzic to give the Zips a 1-0 lead. 

The Zips had a pair of chances sail high and one blocked before a chance from Pol Hernandez was saved by Dziedzic in the final minute of the opening half as the Zips took a 1-0 lead into the interval. 

NIU will travel to Loyola-Chicago on Tuesday night, October 23, for its final non-conference match of the season. Kickoff against the Ramblers is set for 7 p.m.