DEKALB, Ill. -- Junior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) scored in the 31st minute and junior goalkeeper Konrad Dziedzic (Schiller Park, Ill./West Virginia) made four saves as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team earned a 1-0 victory over UIC on Tuesday night at the NIU Soccer Complex. 

The win improved the Huskies to 5-2 on the season while the Flames dropped to 6-2. With the victory, the Huskies have won three consecutive games for the first time since September of 2015 (Sept. 11-18, 2015). 

"It was a great performance tonight and a great win," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "UIC is a very strong team, a very experienced team. I thought it was a good game and we managed it pretty well. (We) limited a very good attacking team to just a handful of opportunities."

NIU created the first good chance in the 14th minute as senior Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) ran through midfield with the ball, nearly had it taken away but a kind deflection came right back to him and he fired a shot that forced a save from UIC goalkeeper Sawyer Jackman.

Three minutes later, freshmen Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) and Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) combined on a give-and-go before the shot from Anthony Markanich was just tipped away by the Flames goalkeeper. 

Just past the half-hour mark the Huskies went in front on the third goal of the season from Maertins. Junior Irvin Dominguez (El Paso, Texas/Richland College) sliced open the UIC defense with a pass that put Maertins in all alone on Jackman and the German made no mistake, slotting a shot into the back of the net to put the Huskies in front. 

The goal was the seventh for Maertins in his NIU career and the assist was the first career point for Dominguez as the Huskies took the lead into halftime.

Just before the hour mark, Nick Markanich unleashed a shot from distance that was pushed away by Jackman for a corner. Two minutes later, a well-worked set piece routine from UIC fell to Markell Saddler but he put the shot high. 

The contest opened up as it reached the latter stages, Rodriguez streaked down the left wing in the 66th minute, only to see his shot palmed away by Jackman. 

In the 73rd minute, Nick Markanich got in behind the UIC backline but couldn't beat Jackman one-v-one. A foul out wide by the Huskies just a minute later lead to a great chance for the Flames but Oscar Gonzalez couldn't beat Dziedzic as the Huskie goalkeeper tipped the ball over the bar. Nick Markanich had another chance in the 76th minute but once again Jackman made the save to keep the Flames within reach. 

UIC's final opportunity came in the 85th minute as Jesus Perez cut across the top of the box into a dangerous position but his shot was deflected just enough to take the sting out of it and into the arms of Dziedzic as the Huskie goalkeeper recorded his fourth clean sheet of the season. 

NIU will return to action on Friday, Sept. 21, when the Huskies travel to Charleston, Ill., to meet Eastern Illinois. Game time against the Panthers is scheduled for 4 p.m.