NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Grant Paskus (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) fired home the game-winning goal in the 89th minute to give the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over Belmont on Friday evening (Oct. 25) at E.S. Rose Park. 

The winner from Paskus, his first collegiate goal, came with just 71 seconds left in the contest to keep NIU's hopes of qualifying for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament alive. Joe Hernandez (Bensenville, Ill./York Community) collected his first career assists on the goal. 

"Absolutely delighted to get the result," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We have said for the last few weeks that we are not as bad as our record shows, but of course you are what your record is. We played well against Evansville last week for 45 minutes, we were good against Western Michigan and Bowling Green, but we lost all those games in the last five minutes. I thought we played well again today, but to find that winner in the closing seconds was just fantastic."

After a cagey first 75 minutes, the contest opened up in the final 15 as both the Huskies and Bruins went in search of the three points. Both teams had chances late before Paskus played the role of hero in the final moments. 

A throw-in from Martin Montya (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) found Hernandez inside the box and he dropped the ball back to the feet of Paskus 20-plus yards from goal. The midfielder from Indianapolis hit a first-time, right-footed shot that whistled past Belmont goalkeeper Grant Calvert and into the upper corner of the goal, sending the Huskies into hysteria. 

"We ask a lot of him and a lot of times it is on the defensive side of the field," Swan said of Paskus. "He played all 90 minutes again today, I thought he was really good. In the opening 15-20 minutes we were playing through him so much. He didn't look like a freshman and really, he isn't a freshman anymore, he's been around and knows how to play. 

"Joe (Hernandez) was on the ball and has been striking it well recently. I thought he was going to get a shot, but he showed a little composure and set up Grant. When Grant struck it, he is one of those guys on the team you trust in that situation, his technique is really good, and I'm delighted for him. He is going to score a lot of goals in his collegiate career."

Belmont (4-8-3, 1-5-1 MVC) had the first chance of the contest as AJ Chastonay slipped past a pair of NIU defenders to create an opportunity in the 10th minute, but NIU goalkeeper Atahan Arslan (Ismir, Turkiye) made the stop to keep the contest scoreless. 

Two minutes later, Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Columbia/Moscrop Secondary) had the first look at goal for the Huskies as his shot from distance was comfortably saved by Calvert. 

Just past the half-hour mark, Josh Squires (Christchurch, England/Highcliffe School) and Sam Divis (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) combined on a one-two that brought Squires into the box, but a last second tackle from a Belmont defender about eight yards from goal thwarted the chance for the Huskies as the game went into halftime scoreless. 

Five minutes into the second half, Belmont swung a ball into the NIU box that ping-ponged into a couple of dangerous positions, but the Bruins were unable to make a clean connection before the ball was scrambled out by the Huskies for a Belmont corner, which was cleared by NIU. 

In the 53rd minute, Dylan Steely had a chance for the Bruins at the back post off a corner, but his header went just high. 

Arslan made a good save down to his left in the 67th minute on a shot from distance by Chastonay that skipped off the turf just before getting to the Huskie goalkeeper. Hernandez then had an opportunity for NIU (3-11-0, 1-5-0 MVC) in the 72nd minute as his effort from a tight angle was beaten away for a Huskie corner by Calvert. 

Thomas and Kevin Kelly (Dublin, Ireland/St. Joseph Rush) combined to create a chance for William Mugisha (Salt Lake City, Utah/Cottonwood) in the 80th minute. Mugisha collected the ball with his back to goal near the top of the box before he turned and fired a shot that sailed over top of the crossbar. 

Griffin Moore had an outstanding opportunity to win it for Belmont as he hit the crossbar with a header from close range off a corner in the 87th minute. Two minutes later, Paskus found the net on the other end to give the Huskies the road victory. 

Arslan finished with five saves while picked up his second shutout of the season. 

"Atahan (Arslan) will get a lot of credit (for the shutout) and it is deserved," said Swan. "I thought he came and grabbed crosses and made a couple big stops. But it was a team effort, our defensive unit was really good. Guys were bought into it today, working hard and I was very pleased with the defensive effort today."

NIU will return home for the final time this season on Friday, Nov. 1, when the Huskies host Drake on Senior Night. Kickoff against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m.