DEKALB, Ill. – Three goals in the opening half-hour helped the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team cruise past 18th-ranked Marquette, 3-0, on Friday night (Sept. 10) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) scored his fifth of the season and Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) netted his third as the Huskies improved to 4-1 on the season. 

"It was a fantastic result," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "To have a team of Marquette's caliber coming in, you know it is always going to be a tough challenge. Right from the first whistle we were exceptional, I'm absolutely delighted for the team to get that result."

It took the Huskies less than four minutes to open the scoring through Nick Markanich. NIU forced a turnover in the Marquette third and quickly jumped on the attack with Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) clipping a ball up at the back post where Nick Markanich powered home a header to put NIU in front. 

The goal was the 28th for Nick Markanich in his NIU career and his fifth of the season, he came into the night tied for fifth in the nation in goals scored this season. The assist for Banuelos was his team-leading fourth, he came into the contest tied for seventh in the country in assists. 

Nick Markanich nearly added a second from a back post in the 14th minute, but his goalward effort was cleared off the line by the Marquette defense before the Golden Eagles scrambled the ball to safety. 

In the 20th minute NIU doubled its advantage off a set piece. The Huskies won a corner and Roque Viegas Jr. (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Syracuse) floated it to the top of the six-yard box where Anthony Markanich climbed above the crowd a headed past Marquette goalkeeper Chandler Hallwood to put the Huskies in front, 2-0. 

NIU continued to pressure the nationally ranked Golden Eagles and it paid off with a third in the 30th minute. Anthony Markanich had the ball wide on the left fired a low cross that was turned into the net by Marquette's Alan Salmeron to increase the Huskie lead to three. 

On the hour-mark, NIU goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) made an outstanding kick save on a chance from inside the box by A.J. Franklin. It was one of three saves made by the Huskie goalkeeper in the contest as he picked up his third shutout of the season. 

"If you are going to be a good team and you are going to challenge top teams, like Marquette, like teams in the MAC, you can't give up goals," said Swan. "The fact that we still haven't conceded at home is fantastic. I thought we were exceptional at the back, Martin's (Sanchez) leadership from the goalkeeping position, the center backs were talking, the full backs were very good in 1v1 situations. The goal scorers will grab the headlines, but I thought we were very, very good and composed at the back."

In the 61st minute, Nick Markanich nearly made it four as his shot from just outside the box cannoned down off the crossbar and away from goal. 

The Huskies continued to pour forward in the late stages, recording six of their 10 second half shots in the final 20 minutes of a decisive victory over the Golden Eagles. 

With the win, NIU has now won three consecutive games against ranked opposition, defeating 15th-ranked Akron, 3-0, on March 14, 2021, in DeKalb, 21st-ranked Akron, 3-1, on April 4, 2021, at Akron and Marquette tonight. The streak marks the first time since the United Soccer Coaches Poll began in 1996 that the Huskies have won three-straight against ranked foes. 

It was also NIU's first win over Marquette since Taylor Cole's 102nd minute golden goal in a 3-2 win on Sept. 18, 2015 in Milwaukee. 

NIU will return to action on Tuesday night, Sept. 14, when they travel to Milwaukee for the annual Lewang Cup clash against the Panthers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.