DEKALB, Ill. – Jose Gomez (Roatan, Honduras/Clarke University) and Kevin Kelly (Dublin, Ireland/St. Joseph Rush) both scored in the second half, but the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team fell, 4-2, to UIC on Saturday night (Sept. 28) at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Flames built a 3-0 lead before the two Huskie goals were part of a hectic 90-second sequence that saw three total goals scored. 

"It's another game where, for large spells of the game, I thought we were really good," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "But I think we have been undone by a team that exhibited better game management today. At times where we were possessing the ball well, (UIC) was able to interrupt play, there were a lot of fouls, especially in the first half. 

"They scored three goals from set pieces, which we are disappointed with the way we conceded the set pieces and also our defending on the second goal, we let the ball travel 70 yards and one of the smallest guys on the field headed it in. Obviously from a technical defensive perspective, that isn't good."

NIU (2-8-0, 0-2-0 MVC) had the ball in the net less than four minutes into the contest, but Sam Divis' (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) header off a free kick from Gomez was ruled out as he was judged to be offside. 

In the 21st minute, UIC went in front on a goal by Darrell Turcios. The Flames drew a free kick about 25 yards from goal and Jesus De Vicente stepped up to take it, firing a shot off the post to the left of NIU goalkeeper Atahan Arslan (Ismir, Turkiye). Turcios was first to react to the rebound and slotted it into the net to give the visitors the lead. 

The Huskies had the ball in the net again just past the halfway mark as Tom Dahlin (Stockholm, Sweden/Danderyds Gymnasium) bent a corner kick straight in for an apparent 'Olympico,' but the referee blew for a foul in the box prior to the ball going in as UIC took a 1-0 lead into halftime. 

It took the Flames less than two minutes into the second half to score a second as UIC eared a free kick three yards inside the NIU half. Juan Gutierrez hit the free kick into the Huskie box where Rui Reis was unmarked for a header eight yards from goal, giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage. 

UIC added a third in the 63rd minute when NIU failed to clear a free kick and the ball ping-ponged to Max Aquino who volleyed home a goal from just outside the top of the box. 

In the 75th minute, NIU pulled a goal back as Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Colombia/Moscrop Secondary) clipped a cross in from the left side to Gomez who took one touch before firing a right-footed shot into the upper corner for his second goal of the season, cutting the UIC lead to 3-1. 

Less than 30 seconds later, the Flames grabbed the goal back as an initial shot from Joshua Torres was parried by Arslan, but Jack Finnegan pounced on the rebound to score from close range, giving UIC a 4-1 lead. 

The goals kept coming just under a minute later as NIU earned a free kick wide left of the UIC goal. Gomez fired a low cross from the free kick toward the near post and Kelly flicked it past UIC goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski to pull another goal back for the Huskies. The goal was the third of the season for the senior from Dublin, Ireland. 

After the three goals in 79 seconds sequence, UIC was able to hold NIU without a shot on target for the final quarter-hour to earn the road win. 

NIU will head on the road on Sunday, Oct. 6, as the Huskies travel to Springfield, Mo., to face Missouri State. Kickoff against the Bears is scheduled for 7 p.m.