DEKALB, Ill. – Three first half goals in a four-minute stretch helped lead Kansas City to a 6-2 victory over the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team on Friday night (Sept. 6) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Kevin Kelly (Dublin, Ireland/St. Joseph Rush) and Joe Hernandez (Bensenville, Ill./York Community) brought the Huskies back within one before the Roos scored the final three goals of the contest. 

"There are bright spots in the game, but as soon as something seems to go against us right now, it seems to snowball," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We gave up the first goal in transition, I thought it was a poor turnover from us, they score, the heads have gone down and before you know it, we are 3-0 down. We managed to dig ourselves back, the first half subs made a difference, and changed the mentality a bit. But our decision making on the ball is not at the level where we need it to be."

Bryson Gosch latched onto a turnover in midfield by the Huskies in the 14th minute and he fed Raphael Kistmann who scored from 15 yards out to give the visitors the early lead. 

Three minutes later, Elie Kisoka was first to attack a floated ball from Julien Le Bourdoulous as he flicked a header over the top of NIU goalkeeper Caleb Pearson (Fort Worth, Texas/LD Bell) to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead. The Roos made it three just 70 seconds later as Kisoka took advantage of a Huskie mistake to smash home a half-volley. 

Kelly then grabbed a goal back for the Huskies as he forced a Kansas City turnover in the box and fired a shot past Roos goalkeeper Brandon McGaugh from the corner of the six-yard box in the 28th minute. The goal was the second for Kelly in as many games. 

Hernandez then scored the first goal of his collegiate career in the 38th minute. Jose Gomez (Roatan, Honduras/Clarke University) fed Hernandez who made a move around one defender before firing across the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net to pull the Huskies back within one, 3-2. 

Kansas City added a fourth just before halftime as Hector Taboada collected a header and fired a left-footed shot into the corner of the net from the top of the 18-yard box to restore the two-goal lead for the visitors. 

Kistmann scored his second goal of the night in the 57th minute when Sora Shibata got to the endline and sent a low cross just outside the six-yard box where Kistmann side-footed it into the top of the net. Jeremy Francou then closed the scoring with a goal for Kansas City in the 76th minute. 
 
NIU will return to action next Friday, Sept. 13, when the Huskies open Missouri Valley Conference play at Bowling Green. Kickoff against the Falcons is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.