CHICAGO, Ill. – Sophomore Louis Sala (West Bloomfield, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) scored his first collegiate goal but the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fell, 2-1, at DePaul on Friday afternoon in the 2019 season opener. David Gripman scored on either side of halftime to lead the Blue Demons to the victory. 

The first good chance of the contest fell to Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) in the 10th minute off a free kick, but the Huskie senior skied his effort harmlessly high. 

DePaul took the lead eight minutes later when Michael Anderson played a ball from midfield over the top of the NIU backline and into the run of Gripman who powered a shot past NIU senior goalkeeper Christoph Köninger (Achern, Germany/Gymnasium Achern) at the near post to give the Blue Demons a 1-0 lead. 

NIU pulled level in the 38th minute when Sala tallied his first career goal. Freshman Adrian Lara (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet Township) hit a ball from the Huskie backline that Sala was able to latch onto near the top of the box and slot past onrushing DePaul goalkeeper Drew Nuelle to even the contest, 1-1, heading into halftime. 

Gripman gave the Blue Demons the lead again 10 minutes after the intermission. Isaac Friendt found an overlapping Brayden Callipari who hit a low cross toward the back post and Gripman was able to get on the end of it and finish from inside the six-yard box for his second goal of the contest. 

The Huskies pushed for an equalizer over the final 30-plus minutes of the contest but were unable to breakthrough the DePaul defense as the Blue Demons held on for the 2-1 victory. 

Köninger made two saves in goal for NIU; Nuelle was also credited with a pair of saves in goal for DePaul. 

NIU will return to action on Sunday afternoon, September 1, when it heads back to Chicago to meet Loyola. Kickoff against the Ramblers is slated for 1 p.m., and will be available on ESPN+.