DEKALB, Ill. – Four different players scored as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team defeated IUPUI, 4-0, on Tuesday afternoon in its second exhibition game at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Huskies outshot the Jaguars 23-1 in the contest, including 13-0 in shots on target. 

"We had some things after Sunday (in their first exhibition game) that we recognized that we needed to improve upon," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We spent a bit of time on the chalkboard, and a little bit of time in the field, yesterday, and I thought the guys responded as well as we could expect them to. 

"Not having to deal with any shots on goal today was a great testament to how they did defensively. The four goals were great opportunities that we created and well-executed as well."

NIU was on the front-foot right from the opening whistle, earning five corner kicks and creating a number of chances in the opening 10 minutes of the contest. 

The Huskies opened the scoring in the 32nd minute on an own goal. Junior Christian Molina (Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek) whipped in a cross toward the back post that was accidently headed into the net by an IUPUI defender to give NIU the lead just past the half-hour mark. 

Junior Ethan Pitre (Minneapolis, Minn./Prairie Seeds Academy) doubled the NIU lead in the 42nd minute. Junior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) had the ball near the corner flag and sent a cross into the box, Pitre leaped and headed the ball back across the face of the goal and into the net for his second goal in as many exhibition contests. 

Just two minutes later the Huskies added a third courtesy of freshman Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais). Maertins collected the ball with his back to goal inside the penalty area and played it to Markanich on his right. The Huskie freshman whistled a shot through IUPUI goalkeeper Quinn McCallion from about 12 yards to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead in the 44th minute. 

Maertins earned his second assist of the afternoon on the goal by Markanich.

NIU continued to enjoy the majority of the possession and the chances in the second half and added a fourth goal in the 71st minute. Molina made a run down the right wing and crossed toward an unmarked Noah Brodie (Scottsdale, Ariz./Carbondale Community). The Huskie senior powered a header beyond IUPUI substitute goalkeeper Michael Buck to give the Huskies a 4-0 victory. 

Goalkeepers Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./West Virginia) and Christoph Koninger (Achern, Germany/Gymnasium Achern) each played 45 minutes to combine for the shutout. 

NIU will finish its three-game exhibition slate on Saturday, August 18, when the Huskies travel to Omaha, Neb., to visit Creighton. Game time against the Bluejays is scheduled for 7 p.m.