GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Despite controlling the majority of the possession, the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fell to Green Bay, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Aldo Santaga Stadium. Junior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) and freshman Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) scored the goals for the Huskies. 

"Obviously it was very frustrating," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "When we looked at our scouting report on Green Bay we knew exactly what we were going to get. Ultimately, we haven't performed on some of the things we talked about and worked at. To concede goals in the manner that we did was very frustrating. 

"The work rate was good from the guys, we scored a couple of nice goals, but our defending and some of our decisions in the first 30 minutes were very bad and cost us the game."

It took NIU (1-1) just six minutes to open the scoring. Sophomore Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) chased a ball down at the end line and floated a cross just outside the six-yard box where Maertins collected it and fired a shot high into the net to give the Huskies the early lead. 

Ten minutes later it was Maertins threatening the Green Bay goal again as he received a pass from senior Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park), skipped past a Phoenix defender and unleashed a shot toward the near post that was pushed away for a corner by Green Bay goalkeeper Jamison Yoder.

Green Bay (1-0-1) levelled the match in the 20th minute on a goal by Abrahm Hill. Off a Phoenix corner, the initial chance was blocked and the Huskies had a chance to clear, but the clearing attempt was deflected to Hill who volleyed a shot past NIU goalkeeper Christoph Köninger (Achern, Germany/Gymnasium Achern) from close range to even the match.

Just 15 seconds later, Green Bay was in front on a goal from Karim Lauba. A miscommunication in the back by the Huskies gave Lauba the chance to collect the ball inside the 18 and calmly finish underneath Köninger to give the Phoenix a 2-1 advantage. 

Green Bay added a third goal against the run of play in the 37th minute. Bernard Assibeyrhule beat Köninger in a foot race to a ball on the edge of the 18-yard box as the Huskie goalkeeper came off his line but Assibeyrhule got there first and chipped the ball over Köninger to put the Phoenix in front, 3-1.

NIU answered right back as just 23 seconds later Nick Markanich scored his second goal in as many games. Nick Markanich played a one-two with his brother Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) before blasting a shot from a tight angle past Yoder to trim the Phoenix lead to 3-2 heading into halftime. 

Just six minutes after the break, lightning in the area caused the match to be delayed for approximately 30 minutes. 

When play resumed, it was the Huskies creating all the chances. In the 61st minute, sophomore Lawrence Kwazema (Burnsville, Minn./The International School of Minnesota) had an outstanding chance to even the match but Yoder made an outstanding save to keep the Phoenix in front. 

In the 71st minute, Anthony Markanich sent a cross into the box toward Maertins who was just a little off-balance and couldn't direct his header on goal. 

NIU continued to have nearly all of the ball in the final 20 minutes but was unable to find an equalizing goal as Green Bay claimed the 3-2 victory. 

Köninger was credited with two saves for the Huskies while Yoder was credited with eight saves for the Phoenix. 

NIU will return to action this weekend as it travels to Edinburg, Texas, to face Houston Baptist (Friday, Aug. 31) and Texas Rio Grande Valley (Sunday, Sept. 2).