KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team and Western Michigan combined for nine shots on target but neither side was able to break the deadlock as the Huskies and Broncos played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11) at the WMU Soccer Complex. 

"A draw is probably a fair result," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "It was a closely contested battle, but I think we probably created the best chance of the game, it is one we would like to finish. We had a couple of really good opportunities and couldn't quite find that finishing touch. Atahan (Arslan) had to come up with a big save for us and Joe Hernandez had two massive moments defensively for us, just determination in the latter stages of the game and made fantastic runs back. So, I supposed when you put it all together, we have to be happy (with a draw)."

NIU's first look at goal came in the 20th minute as Joe Hernandez (Bensenville, Ill./York Community) whistled a shot high from outside the box. 

Atahan Arslan (Ismir, Turkiye) was called into action four minutes later as Braden Stevanovic cut in from the left side and fired a low shot to Arslan's left, but the Huskie goalkeeper got down well to make the save. 

Hernandez had another look at goal in the 36th minute as he collected the ball about 30 yards from goal, took a touch and fired a low shot that was held by Western Michigan goalkeeper Alex Lindewirth. 

Tobias Crear (Carrollton, Texas/Creekview) then had a chance as he got on the end of a short cross and volleyed back across goal toward the far upper corner. Lindewirth palmed Crear's 40th minute shot away however as the contest went into halftime scoreless. 

Just past the hour mark, the Huskies had a free kick wide of the box and it appeared that NIU would swing in a cross, but Jose Gomez (Roatan, Honduras) opted for the shot instead, looking to catch Lindewirth off guard, but the Bronco goalkeeper parried it away for a corner. 

Arslan made an outstanding reaction save in the 76th minute as Western Michigan floated a free kick into the box and Christian Shannon's shot from about 12 yards was fought off by the NIU goalkeeper. 

Gomez slid past a couple of Bronco defender in the 80th minute before getting to the edge of the six-yard box at a tight angle where his shot was pushed aside by Lindewirth for a NIU corner. 

The Huskies should have gone in front in the 87th minute as NIU played Vance Sheffield (West Linn, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep) in behind the Western Michigan defense. The freshman forward skipped around Lindewirth but just couldn't sort out his feet to slide the ball into an empty goal. 

Both teams had a chance in the final minute. Sheffield collected the ball at the top of the Western Michigan 18-yard box, turning a defender before firing a shot wide. Alek Markovski then had a header in the final seconds from the top of the NIU six-yard box, but his header went high as NIU and Western Michigan settled for a scoreless draw. 

NIU will return to action next Friday, Oct. 17, when the Huskies host Belmont. Kickoff against the Bruins is scheduled for 6 p.m.