ROCKFORD, Ill. – Down a man and a goal for the final 15 minutes of regulation time, the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team earned a 2-2 draw courtesy of a 90th minute goal from junior Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 17) at The Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two.  

"It was an impressive response after being a goal down and a man down to find a way to come back into the game, and actually create opportunities to win it as well," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "As we reflect on it, there is also disappointment in being in a position to win it, 1-0 up and playing well, to concede two goals was a little frustrating. It will probably take a little more time to digest, but I was happy with the response and the guys finding a way to get an equalizer."

Neither team generated much in the way of chances in the opening 45 minutes as the Huskies and Blue Demons combined for just seven shots. The best opportunity to break the deadlock in the opening half fell to sophomore Luis Hernandez (Mesquite, Texas/Lone Star) who fired a low shot that was saved by DePaul goalkeeper Drew Nuelle.

After halftime, NIU was on the front-foot right from the whistle and the Huskie pressure led to an opening goal in the 56th minute from Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais). Senior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) worked his way into the box down the left side and sent in a low cross that came off the goalkeeper and pinballed right into the path of Nick Markanich who made no mistake and fired the Huskies into a 1-0 lead. 

The NIU advantage lasted just five minutes however as the Huskies were whistled for a foul in the box in the 61st minute and Jake Fuderer slotted his shot from 12 yards past NIU sophomore goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) to level the match at one. 

DePaul was in front four minutes later as Jack Richards played the ball to David Gripman who found Fuderer with plenty of space on the left side. Fuderer fired a shot back across the body of Sanchez and into the net to give the Blue Demons a 2-1 lead. 

With a quarter-hour to play, NIU went down a man as freshman Harry Jolley (Liverpool, England) saw his second yellow card of the match. The Huskies and Blue Demons combined for six cards and 46 fouls in the contest. 

In the final minute of the 90, NIU threw everything forward and Nick Markanich slipped a pass into his brother, Anthony just inside the six-yard box and Anthony Markanich tucked a shot inside the near-post past Nuelle to level the match with 32 seconds left on the clock.

As the match went into overtime, DePaul thought it found a winner in the 98th minute as Fuderer had the ball in the back of the net, but the assistant referee had signaled to the referee to stop play for an injured Huskie prior to the goal kick that led to the ball ending up in the net. After a lengthy delay, the officials ruled no goal and the overtime period continued. 

In the second overtime period, junior Diego Sanz (Mompia, Spain/La Marina) had the best chance to win it in the 109th minute after an initial shot from freshman Roland Dearborn (Crystal Lake, Ill./Dundee Crown) was blocked and the rebound fell to Sanz whose chance was scrambled away by Nuelle in goal as the Huskies and Blue Demons had to settle for a 2-2 draw. 

Nuelle finished with six saves in goal for DePaul; Sanchez recorded two saves for NIU. 

The Huskies will play their final non-conference game on Friday, February 26 against Chicago State. Kickoff against the Cougars is slated for 2 p.m.