DEKALB, Ill. – Sophomore Adrian Lara (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet Township) scored a pair of second half goals to lead a 3-2 comeback victory for the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team against Western Michigan on Wednesday afternoon (March 17) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Freshman Camilo Estrada (Carrollton, Texas/Lone Star) also scored as the Huskies picked up their second win in as many games.

"This was a huge character test for the guys," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We have nothing but respect for Western Michigan, one of the most consistent teams in the conference during my tenure, so when you go behind against them it is really tough. They scored two nice goals, but the guys responded every time. 

"I didn't think our play was great in the first half but as the game went on we grew into it and I'm absolutely delighted with the result."

Lara becomes the first Huskie center back to score two goals in a game since Taylor Cole had a pair of goals against West Virginia on November 6, 2015. 

Western Michigan (3-2-0, 1-2-0 MAC) opened the scoring in the 15th minute as Brennan Creek whipped a cross into the box and Dylan Sing flashed a header past NIU sophomore goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) from close range to give the Broncos an early lead. 

The Huskies leveled the match in the 35th minute as Estrada scored his first collegiate goal. A cross came in from the right that pinballed inside the six-yard box before freshman Diego Maynez (El Paso, Texas/Lone Star) played it back toward the top of the box where Estrada unleashed a rocket past a diving Isaac Walker who had no chance in goal for Western Michigan as NIU tied the contest at one. 

It took Western Michigan just four minutes to retake the lead through Eric Conerty. Max Keenan played the ball into Conerty inside the box with plenty of time and space to pick out the corner at the far post and restore the Broncos lead which they would take into halftime.

Neither goalkeeper registered a save in the opening 45 minutes as all three shots on target found the back of the net. 

Maynez had the first attempt on target for NIU just before the hour mark as his shot from just outside the box was tipped over the bar by Walker and out for a corner. 

From the ensuing corner, the Huskies were level again as Lara scored his second goal of the season. Sophomore Luis Hernandez (Mesquite, Texas/Lone Star) whipped a corner inside the six-yard box where freshman Harry Jolley (Liverpool, England) rose highest, heading it back off the post. Lara pounced on the rebound off the post, finishing with his own header from inside the six to level the match at 2-2 in the 59th minute.

Five minutes later, Sanchez was called upon to keep the contest tied as he pushed a shot from Daniel Nimick over the crossbar. 

NIU (3-3-1, 2-1-0) took its first lead of the match in the 74th minute as Lara scored his second goal of the match off another corner. Senior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) whipped a dangerous ball inside the six and Lara reacted first, beating Walker to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead.

"He has been fantastic all season, in particular the last few games since conference play started," Swan said of Lara. "He has arguably been our best player, so it is outstanding to see him adding goals as well. He has his first career goal (earlier this season) and getting two today is fantastic, it is just that commitment to get on the end of the ball and keep your composure."

The Huskies held Western Michigan without a shot attempt in the final quarter-hour as they claimed all three points in the contest. 

Sanchez and Walker each finished with a pair of saves in the contest.  

NIU will conclude its three-match homestand on Sunday, March 21, when the Huskies host Bowling Green. Kickoff against the Falcons is scheduled for 12 p.m.