DEKALB, Ill. -- Angel Rodriguez (Elgin, Ill./Ignite Christian Academy) opened the scoring in the 50th minute but the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Lindenwood on Thursday night (Sept. 8) at the NIU Soccer Complex. 

"I was a little disappointed tonight," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "The energy was a little low. I don't know if it was Monday's game, which was high-energy and high excitement, playing for a trophy, and tonight it wasn't quite the same. I don't know if that came from my preparation for it, heavy legs or what it was. And obviously Lindenwood did a really good job of nullifying some of our threats, but overall, it was a disappointing outing from us."

NIU (2-1-2) created the first few chances of the contest. In the eighth minute, Taisei Arima (Machida, Japan/Fort Hayes State) tried to beat Lindenwood goalkeeper Meldin Sabotic from a tight angle at the near post, but Sabotic deflected the ball out for a corner. Three minutes later, Camilo Estrada (Dallas, Texas/Lone Star) had a low shot from about 15 yards tipped away by Sabotic.

Jakub Rojek (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) was called upon for the first time in the 14th minute as he dove to stop a flicked header from Joaquin Herrera off a long throw. 

The game's first outstanding chance came in the 22nd minute as Parker Jeppson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southwest) whistled a shot from just over 20 yards that was tailing toward the upper corner of the net, but Sabotic made an outstanding stop to keep the game scoreless. 

On the half-hour mark, Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) saw his shot from close range fought off by Sabotic as the game would go into the interval deadlocked. 

NIU made a number of changes to start the second half and it took just five minutes for those changes to pay off as Rodriguez netted his second goal of the season. 

Malcolm Ward (Youngs, Australia/Newington College) sent a low cross in from the right, Rodriguez got on the end of it and saw his first shot blocked but the rebound fell right back to his feet, and he fired it into the upper 90 to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute.

Four minutes after the hour-mark, Lindenwood (0-2-1) was level as Feho Sabotic's corner found Cole Hutson at the back post and the Lion defender's significant height advantage allowed him to make first contact and then fire the ball into the net to even the match. 

"I was conscious of the fact we play three days ago, so we thought making some changes at halftime would help and I think it did, we looked a little more dynamic and more energetic to start with," said Swan. "But after we scored the goal, it seemed to drop again, I don't think we had that sense of urgency, so that suggests that today was more of a mental thing than a physical thing."

Five minutes after the goal, Feho Sabotic forced a save from Rojek, but that would be the final time either goalkeeper was called upon to make a save. 

Rojek finished with three stops for the Huskies in his first career start, Meldin Sabotic made six saves in goal for Lindenwood. 

NIU will be back at home on Monday night (Sept. 12) as the Huskies host UIC at 7 p.m. in their final home game before embarking on a five-match road swing.