EDINBURG, Texas -- Senior Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) scored his first goal of the season and junior Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./West Virginia) recorded his second shutout of the year as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team earned a 1-0 victory over Houston Baptist on Friday afternoon at the Rio Grande Valley Invitational. 

Rodriguez scored in the 26th minute and the Huskie defense did not allow a shot on target as they improved to 2-1 on the season, Houston Baptist fell to 1-1-1. 

"Especially in the first half, we were pretty dominant, creating a lot of good chances and seeing a lot of the ball," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We were very good and probably should have scored a couple goals (in the first half). In the second half, (Houston Baptist) came out a lot more physical and direct, they had control of the game for a little bit but I never felt we were really in danger. After we weathered the early storm we looked good again and, again, should have scored a couple more goals."

It took NIU less than three minutes to test Houston Baptist goalkeeper Jorge Cabrera as a shot from junior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) forced a save in the early going. 

In the 20th minute, the Huskies had another chance as sophomore Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) fired a shot that required a stop from Cabrera. 

Rodriguez had his first sight of goal in the 25th minute, whistling a shot just high. Just a minute later Rodriguez broke the deadlock. Freshman Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) slipped the ball into the feet of Rodriguez on the left side of the box and the Huskie senior fired a shot past Cabrera to put the Huskies in front. 

The goal was the sixth for Rodriguez in his NIU career while Markanich recorded his second assist in just his third collegiate game. 

After the interval, Houston Baptist had a shot from Malik Key in the 56th minute, but it was blocked by the NIU defense. It was the only shot Houston Baptist was credited with in the contest. 

"Defensively, the whole team did their job," said Swan. "We managed it very well, we limited Houston Baptist to no real clear-cut opportunities so it was a very good defensive effort."

Just past the hour mark, NIU had a pair of opportunities to double its advantage as junior Irvin Dominguez (Frisco, Texas/Richland College) saw his chance saves and moments later Markanich sent a shot wide right. 

In the 71st minute, Welch had a chance that was saved by Cabrera. Dominguez was denied by the Houston Baptist goalkeeper in the 73rd minute and freshman Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) was denied in the 78th as NIU continued to threaten. 

Another chance from Nick Markanich was saved in the 81st minute and Rodriguez saw his chance for a second goal stopped in the 83rd minute but the Huskies would not need another goal as they came away with the 1-0 victory. 

NIU will play its second game of the weekend on Sunday, Sept. 2, when the Huskies meet tournament host Texas Rio Grande Valley. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.