DEKALB, Ill. – Taylor Davis (Wichita Falls, Texas/Wichita Falls) scored the lone goal in the final minute of the first half to lift the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Bradley on Saturday night (Oct. 14) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Jakub Rojek (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) made three saves in goal while picking up his second shutout of the season. 

NIU is now unbeaten in its last three matches and improves to 1-2-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. 

"With conference games, the biggest thing is getting the three points, getting the win," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Delighted with that, it puts us in a good position to challenge for the conference tournament. Playing the team that is top of the conference (Western Michigan) next week, with a chance to close the gap all comes from this result. It was massive to get the result, that was the most important thing."

NIU nearly opened the scoring in the ninth minute as Dylan Banker (McHenry, Ill./McHenry West) redirected a corner on target from close range, but Bradley goalkeeper Drew Berry got a foot to it. The Braves scrambled the ball out to the top of the six-yard box where Luka Vasic (Maple, Ontario/Maple) volleyed it back on goal, only to see Berry paw it away. 

The Huskies had another outstanding chance in the 25th minute as Taisei Arima (Machida, Japan/Seiryo) floated a ball into the run of Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Columbia/Moscrop Secondary). Thomas' one-touch finish from about eight yards was beaten away by Berry as the contest remained scoreless. 

Luis Hernandez (Dallas, Texas/Lone Star) then had an opportunity for NIU in the 37th minute as a corner kick skipped through the box toward beyond the back post where Hernandez collected and fired a shot from a tight angle that Berry tipped over the crossbar. 

NIU finally broke the deadlock just as the game entered the final minute of the first half on Davis' second goal of the season. 

Angel Rodriguez (Elgin, Ill./Ignite Christian Academy) collected a throw-in from Jakub Drazek (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) just inside the corner of the box. Rodriguez then played the ball into the feet of Sam Divis (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) inside the box and Divis laid it into the path of Davis 14 yards from goal. Davis fired a low, left-footed shot past Berry and into the back of the net to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead at the interval. 

Two minutes before the hour-mark, Eddie Knight (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star) drew a foul in a dangerous position 25 yards from goal. Drazek stepped up to take the free kick and nearly found the upper corner, forcing Berry into an outstanding save at full stretch. 

Rojek was called upon for the first time in the contest in the 66th minute as Joao Saraiva hit a shot from the edge of the box that rattled back off the crossbar. DJ Koulai's shot from close range off the rebound forced an outstanding reaction save from Rojek to keep the Huskies in front. 

Excellent buildup play from NIU led to an opportunity for Arima to double the lead. Rodriguez sprayed the ball out wide to Arima, who cut in on his left and fired back across his body toward the low corner of the goal, but Berry got a hand to it to make the save in the 70th minute. 

Drazek then forced another good save from Berry seven minutes later as NIU continued to be unable to find an insurance goal. 

Less than two minutes from full time, Bradley had one last chance as a low cross found Caleb Ribeiro near the penalty spot, but Rojek reacted to make an excellent kick save to preserve the shutout. Ribeiro's rebound was blocked by a Huskie defender and a third chance from Camden Kowalski was blocked out for a corner as the Huskies held on for a 1-0 victory. 

"The thing that (Jakub) brings to the team is leadership and his shot stopping is exceptional," said Swan. "He was able to demonstrate that today, his reflexes, especially on the one in the last couple of minutes, he stood up and made the block. He essentially kept the win for us, Bradley got in a really good spot, fantastic stuff from (Jakub) at the end."

NIU has a quick turnaround as the Huskies travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., on Wednesday, Oct. 18, to face Western Michigan. Kickoff against the Broncos is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.