MACOMB, Ill. – Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) scored in the 50th minute as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team topped Western Illinois, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 17) at MacKenzie Alumni Field. With the victory, the Huskies improved to 3-2-2 on the season.  

"Looking at Western (Illinois') results prior to this game, pretty much every game has been a tie or a one-goal contest, so we knew it would be a tight one," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "As much as we might have over-focused on the defensive side in the first half of the game, even then we were creating some chances and we limited their chances to things from distance and set pieces. I thought the guys did a good job to limit the chances we have conceded. 

"We have given up too many goals this year so getting through the 90 minutes with the shutout was an important thing."

Following a cagey opening 45 minutes in which the Huskies and Leatherneck combined for eight total shots, and just three on target, it took NIU less than five minutes to open the scoring after the interval. 

NIU earned a free kick about 30 yards from goal and Miguel Maynez Jr. (El Paso, Texas/New Mexico) floated a ball toward the back post where Banuelos was able to rise highest and head it past Western Illinois goalkeeper Alex Flowers to put the visitors in front. 

The goal was the first of the year for Banuelos and the eighth of his NIU career. 

"(Enrique) has been creating chances and getting in good positions but just hasn't quite had that finishing touch so it was great for him to have a nice finish today," said Swan.

After playing provider for the first goal, Maynez nearly added a second himself in the 58th minute with a shot that was tipped over the bar by Flowers. 

NIU was on the attack again five minutes later as the Huskies forced a turnover in midfield and worked the ball to Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Columbia/Moscrop Secondary) down the right side. Thomas who drove into the Western Illinois box and fired a shot that forced another save from Flowers. 

The Huskie defense held Western Illinois without a shot on target in the second 45 minutes as the closest the Leathernecks came to threatening the NIU goal was in the 76th minute as Sofian Maghouz sent a half-volley over the top of the NIU goal. 

NIU goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) made two saves in the contest while picking up his first clean sheet of the season, and the 11th of his Huskie career. Flowers made three saves in goal for Western Illinois. 

In the first half, NIU had a great chance in the 11th minute as Angel Rodriguez (Elgin, Ill./Ignite Christian Academy) and Adrian Corona (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) combined in the buildup before the ball was played into Taylor Davis (Wichita Falls, Texas/Wichita Falls) inside the box, but the Wichita Falls, Texas, native fired over the crossbar as the contest remained scoreless in the early going. 

Sanchez was called into action for the first time in the 32nd minute as he comfortably smothered a shot from distance by Oscar Olingdahl. The NIU goalkeeper made another comfortable stop in the 38th minute on a shot from Maghouz as the contest went into halftime scoreless. 

NIU will now turn its attention to Mid-American Conference play as the Huskies travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., on Friday, Sept. 23, to meet Western Michigan. Game time against the Broncos is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.