KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Taisei Arima (Machida, Japan/Seiryo) scored in the 72nd minute but the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fell at Western Michigan, 3-1, on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 18) as the Huskies saw their three-match unbeaten streak come to a close. 

"It's disappointing to lose an important conference game," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I thought there was some really good stuff, especially in the second half. We were much sharper and got into some really good areas but ultimately, when you look at the quality chances created, Western Michigan had more quality chances today and were probably deserved winners.

"There were some positive steps, we just happened to be playing a really good team today that punished us for our mistakes. We have to continue to work, continue doing the things that have made us successful."

NIU (4-7-1, 1-3-1 Missouri Valley) had the first look at goal in the contest as a shot by Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Columbia/Moscrop Secondary) from near the top of the box was comfortably held by Western Michigan goalkeeper Ethan Brandt in the second minute. 

In the 22nd minute, Kevin Kelly (Dublin, Ireland/St. Joseph Rush) collected the ball with space just outside the top of the box but dragged his effort wide of the target. 

Western Michigan (10-1-3, 4-0-1 Missouri Valley) broke the deadlock in the 34th minute on a goal from Dylan Sing. The Broncos had the ball just inside the penalty area on the right side and it was clipped into the six-yard box for a header by Carson Hodgson that was stopped by NIU goalkeeper Jakub Rojek (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben). The rebound fell right to the feet of Sing, however, who scored from a tight angle to give the home side a 1-0 lead. 

The Broncos doubled their advantage as Sing scored his second goal five minutes before halftime. Western Michigan played a cross into the box that ping-ponged off a pair of Huskie defenders before Jaylen Shannon nodded it toward goal for Western Michigan and Sing poked it past Rojek at the second attempt to give the Broncos a 2-0 advantage that they would take into halftime.   

In the 62nd minute, Western Michigan whipped a cross into the box that found the head of Charlie Sharp but Rojek was able to make the save on Sharp's header. 

Six minutes later, Thomas fired a shot from distance that had Brandt scrambling to his left, but Thomas' effort went just wide. 

NIU cut the Western Michigan lead in half in the 72nd minute on a goal Arima. Sam Divis (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) whipped a cross in from the right wing that found Arima inside the six-yard box. Arima's volley hit the underside of the crossbar on its way past Brandt to cut the Western Michigan lead to 2-1. 

The goal was the third of the season for Arima and the sixth of his Huskie career. 

Just two minutes later, the Broncos regained their two-goal lead through Tom Cooklin. NIU turned the ball over at the top of its own 18-yard box and Cooklin fired a shot into the upper corner of the net, giving Western Michigan a 3-1 lead. 

Rojek made six saves in the contest for the Huskies, Brandt recorded five saves in goal for Western Michigan. 

NIU will return home on Sunday, Oct. 22, when the Huskies host Belmont. Kickoff against the Bruins is slated for 1 p.m. and admission is free of charge.