DEKALB, Ill. – Memphis scored two goals off set pieces as the Tigers topped the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 27) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Angel Rodriguez (Elgin, Ill./Ignite Christian Academy) scored his first goal of the season and Jakub Rojek (Chicago, Ill./Von Steuben) made seven saves.

"Really disappointed, obviously in the result but also in the performance," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I thought for the vast majority of the game, Memphis was better than us and I didn't see us at any point step up and look for the battle, or the fight, to match them physically. We knew they were a physical, direct team and although we prepped for that, they just outworked us. The number of second balls they got onto was far higher than us and, at the level, that's going to cost you."

The Tigers opened the scoring just before halftime as Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos broke the deadlock. Jose Maria Ojeda whipped in a cross from the left side and dos Santos, a member of the Hermann Trophy Watch List for national player of the year, flicked a header past Rojek from inside the box, giving Memphis the lead in the 42nd minute. 

After the interval, NIU had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot as Taisei Arima (Machida, Japan/Seiryo) was fouled inside the penalty area in the 56th minute. Kevin Kelly (Dublin, Ireland/St. Joseph Rush) stepped up to take the penalty for the Huskies, but it was saved by Memphis goalkeeper Colin Welsh. The rebound fell to Kelly, but Welsh reacted quickly and made a second save to keep the visitors in front. 

Just four minutes later, Memphis doubled its advantage as dos Santos scored his second goal of the game, and third of the season. Ojeda took a free kick from about 30 yards from goal and whipped it toward the back post where dos Santos rose highest and found the back of the net to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. 

In the 62nd minute, Arima fired a shot from distance that forced Welsh into a save low to his left. 

Memphis (2-0) scored a third in the 78th minute off a long throw. Hayden Anderson's throw found the head of Jackson Kim, just ahead of Rojek, and he flicked it past the Huskie goalkeeper to add to the visitor's lead. 

NIU (1-1) pulled a goal back just two minutes later. Arima played the ball wide to Eddie Knight (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star) and his cross found Rodriguez dashing into the penalty area to beat Memphis goalkeeper JD Gunn, trimmed the Tigers lead back to a pair. The goal was the third for Rodriguez in his NIU career. 

The Huskies will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 1, when they travel to Notre Dame to face the Fighting Irish. Kickoff at Notre Dame is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be available streaming online via ACC Network Extra.