STATESBORO, Ga. – Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) opened the scoring with his 13th goal of the season, tied for most in the nation, but the 21st-ranked Northern Illinois University men's soccer team was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Georgia Southern on Thursday night (Oct. 21) at Eagle Field.

Nick Markanich opened the scoring in the 20th minute, but the Eagles pulled the goal back three minutes before halftime. Despite numerous chances late in regulation and in overtime to find a winner, NIU was held to its second consecutive tie as the Huskies are now 10-1-2 overall, 2-0-2 in Mid-American Conference play, and unbeaten in their last 11 matches. Georgia Southern moves to 4-9-1, 0-2-1 in the league. 

"It feels like a defeat," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We were really slow to start the game, even though we scored in the first half. We didn't look sharp, we didn't look clean, it took us about 60 minutes to really start playing, so I have to look at that and how we prepared and why we were so off it tonight."

NIU goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) was called into action a couple of times in the opening 20 minutes before the Huskies opened the scoring. 

Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) played a direct ball from near midfield finding the head of his twin brother Nick Markanich just a couple steps inside the box. Nick Markanich flicked a header over the top of Georgia Southern goalkeeper Jokull Blaengsson, who was a few yards off his line, and into the net to give the Huskies the lead. 

Georgia Southern struck back just before the interval through Adam Davie. NIU was unable to clear the ball near the top of their box and Davie placed a side-footed shot just inside the far post in the 42nd minute to bring the Eagles level. 

Late in regulation with the contest still even, Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico) got an angle to cut toward goal and worked his way inside the box for a shot that came off the head of Blaengsson as the Georgia Southern goalkeeper kept the game tied in the 85th minute. 

The hosts had the last chance in the 90 minutes as Jeremiah Luoma caught NIU on the counter but fired high with 90 seconds left in regulation time. 

After neither team recorded a shot in the first extra period, NIU had multiple excellent chances to win it in the final 10 minutes. 

In the 102nd minute, Banuelos hit a shot from distance that was tipped over the bar by Blaengsson. 

Six minutes later, the Huskies flicked a ball into the run of Nick Markanich who got behind the Georgia Southern defense and appeared to be in alone on goal, but an Eagle defender made an excellent recovery to block Nick Markanich's shot out for a corner. 

Form the ensuing corner, the second ball fell to the feet of Anthony Markanich about 10 yards from goal and his shot went just inches wide of the post. 

Sanchez finished with five saves for the Huskies, Blaengsson was also credited with five stops for the Huskies. 

NIU will continue its two-game trip in the State of Georgia on Saturday night, Oct. 23, when the Huskies visit Georgia State, game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. 

"Georgia State is going to be a very good opponent and it is a big test for the guys to see where they are and how much they want to be MAC Champions," said Swan. "For the most part, things are still in our hands. We are in a great position, but it does mean that we have to go get a good result against a very good Georgia State team on Saturday."