CHICAGO, Ill. – Diego Maynez (El Paso, Texas/Lone Star) scored in the first half while Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) and Miguel Maynez Jr. (El Paso, Texas/New Mexico) were on target in the second as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team topped Chicago State, 3-1, on Thursday evening (Oct. 6) at Kroc Stadium. 

"I think every time you play a MAC game, the priority is coming out with the result, it doesn't matter how it happens," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I'm delighted to finally get ourselves off the mark with a conference win and we know we have another huge one coming up on Sunday. 

"(Diego Maynez, Enrique Banuelos and Miguel Maynez Jr.) have all been dangerous. We know they have the potential to score, and we created several good opportunities. Diego scoring that first goal was huge for us to set the tone, it was a fantastic strike. Really happy for all three of them and hopefully it kicks on to a few more."

Playing in rainy conditions and against a strong wind in the opening 45 minutes, NIU (4-4-3, 1-2-0 MAC) created the first good chance in the 17th minute as good combination play by the visitors led to a chance for Diego Maynez inside the six-yard box, but he just couldn't sort his feet to make clean contact on a shot attempt. 

Nine minutes later, Banuelos whistled a ball just wide across the face of goal and on a half-hour mark it was Miguel Maynez Jr. firing wide on the second ball from a free kick. 

Three minutes before halftime, Banuelos rose the highest at the back post from a corner, but his header was into the arms of Chicago State goalkeeper Marco Seyfert. Just a minute later, the Huskies made the breakthrough as Diego Maynez scored his first goal of the season. 

The NIU midfielder cut inside and unleashed an effort into the upper corner of the goal, giving Seyfert no chance, as the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into the interval. 

After the break, NIU was right back on the front foot with Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Columbia/Moscrop Secondary) stinging the palms of Seyfert three minutes into the second half. 

In the 55th minute, the Huskies combined to play through the middle of the Cougar defense and Banuelos had an effort that went just over the crossbar. 

Three minutes later, Chicago State leveled the contest as a mix-up at the back saw the Huskies put the ball past goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) for an own goal. 

On the hour mark, NIU was back in front as Diego Maynez was fouled in the box and Banuelos stepped up to calmly slot home the penalty, giving the Huskies a 2-1 advantage. 

"It was a frustrating goal to give up, to score on ourselves, but I didn't sense any panic," said Swan. "We still seemed pretty confident and went right down and earned the penalty. That's always a good test on the personality after conceding is how you respond to that."

With 20 minutes to play, Kevin Galiano (Bellingham, Wash./Meridian) forced a save from Seyfert as the Huskies went in search of a third goal. 

NIU found its third in the 80th minute as Miguel Maynez Jr. skipped a low free kick from about 20 yards past the Chicago State goalkeeper and inside the far post to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead. 

Sanchez finished with one save for the Huskies, Seyfert made four stops in goal for the Cougars. 

NIU will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 9, as the Huskies host Western Michigan in the second game of an Alumni Day doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. The NIU women's soccer team will host Akron to begin the day at 1 p.m.