DES MOINES, Iowa -- Angel Rodriguez (Elgin, Ill./Ignite Christian Academy) scored his second goal in as many games, converting from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw against Drake on Saturday night (Oct. 7) at the Cownie Soccer Complex. 

Drake opened the scoring with a penalty of its own in the 15th minute before Rodriguez's third goal of the season three minutes from full time meant that the Huskies and Bulldogs shared the points. 

"I have mixed feelings right now," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "On the one hand, we picked up a point after trailing for so long in the game, to score so late on, obviously we are happy to get something out of the game. I was a little disappointed that we haven't come away with the victory, I thought this was a real opportunity to get a win on the road. 

"We didn't really show up in the first half, I didn't think we tested their goalkeeper a lot or got into dangerous positions, so I was a little disappointed, but we are happy to leave with a point."

NIU had the first look at goal in the contest as Luis Hernandez (Dallas, Texas/Lone Star) fired a shot that went wide in the 13th minute. 

The home side opened the scoring in the 15th minute as AJ Franklin converted from the penalty spot. NIU was unable to clear the ball out of the box from a corner and the Huskies were whistled for a foul, sending Franklin to the spot. Franklin slotted the ball past NIU goalkeeper Atahan Arslan (Ismir, Turkey) to give the Bulldogs the lead after a quarter-hour. 

Drake had another chance in the 43rd minute as a shot from Damian Segura near the top of the box was parried away by Arslan. The NIU defense was able to clear the danger as the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into halftime. 

In the first minute after the interval, Eskil Gjerde had a chance that went narrowly wide for Drake. 

Just before the hour mark, NIU had its first chance of the second half as Hernandez whipped a free kick in the box and Dylan Banker (McHenry, Ill./MeHenry West) rose highest, but Banker's header went wide. 

In the 63rd minute, the Huskies had a great chance off a corner. Hernandez floated the corner toward the back side of the box where Eddie Knight (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star) played it back toward the penalty spot. Rodriguez flicked a header on goal past Drake goalkeeper Quinn Millerd but it was cleared off the goal line by a Bulldog defender. 

Three minutes later, Arslan made a good save with his feet to keep the Huskies close.

NIU continued to press for an equalizer and those efforts finally paid off in the 87th minute when Taisei Arima (Machida, Japan/Seiryo) made a slaloming run into the box and was taken down for a penalty. Rodriguez stepped up to take the penalty for the Huskies and made no mistake, tucking the ball into the back of the net past Millerd to earn NIU a point. 

The Huskies will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 14, when they host Bradley on Homecoming weekend in DeKalb. Kickoff against the Braves is scheduled for 7 p.m. and admission to all NIU Soccer games is free of charge.