DEKALB, Ill. – Niko Angulo (Dallas, Texas/Allegiance Academy) scored his third goal of the season in the 88th minute as the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team played to a 2-2 draw against Belmont on Friday night (Oct. 17) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Jose Gomez (Roatan, Honduras) opened the scoring in the first half before the Bruins took the lead in the second 45 minutes before Angulo's late equalizer. 

"It is great that we found a way to get a point so late on," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I thought we were really good in the first half. In the second half we just didn't adjust quickly enough to what Belmont were doing, becoming a little more direct and obviously got themselves a couple of goals. A little disappointed that we conceded two but delighted with the response and finding a late equalizer."

After a cagey start from both teams, NIU opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark as Gomez got his second goal of the season. Amara Kamara (Monrovia, Liberia/Nettleton Wesleyan) split the Belmont center backs with a long ball from the back that Gomez settled with his head before slotting a shot past Bruin goalkeeper Grant Calvert in the 16th minute to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. 

In the 27th minute, a Belmont turnover led to a quick counterattack for the Huskies and Gomez nearly doubled the advantage but found the side-netting. 

Atahan Arslan (Ismir, Turkiye) was called upon for the first time a minute later as he made an outstanding save on a chance from Brad Dildy. NIU turned the ball over and Dildy raced in on goal from the left side, firing a shot that Arslan pawed away with his left hand.

Martin Montoya (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) had a look at goal in the 39th minute, but his left-footed shot from distance tailed away from goal as NIU took a 1-0 advantage into halftime. 

Less than a minute into the second half, Arslan came up with another good save, denying Paul Claes Nielsen from near the edge of the six-yard box. 

Belmont (6-1-6, 1-1-2 MVC) was level in the 49th minute when a low cross from the right was deflected past Arslan by a Huskie defender inside the six-yard box for an own goal. 

The Bruins nearly went in front six minutes later when Riley Clothier made a run from the back and fired a shot from just outside the box that cannoned back off the crossbar. 

Belmont did go in front in the 71st minute courtesy of Lucas Wolthers. Ethan Schlegel slipped a pass into the run of Wolthers down the left side and his low shot tucked just inside the far post to give the visitors the lead with less than 20 minutes to play. 

Just 30 seconds later, Angulo nearly pulled the goal right back as he swung a ball in from the right that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down just in front of the goal line. 

NIU (5-3-4, 1-0-3 MVC) continued to push for a tying goal, and it finally came in the 88th minute through Angulo. Gomez played a low ball across the box that deflected off a Belmont defender into the Bruin goalkeeper and the rebound fell kindly to Angulo who smashed it into the net to give the Huskies a point. 

The goal was the seventh this season by the Huskies in the 85th minute or later. 

"The players on the field are more composed than us on the sidelines sometimes because it did look like things were getting away from us, but there is just a belief in there," said Swan. "Obviously there is quality in our attack, so we did have the thought that if the ball drops in the right spot we have someone that could find a goal for us. I was delighted that Niko (Angulo) held his composure."

NIU will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 21, when the Huskies host Notre Dame. Kickoff against the Fighting Irish is slated for 6 p.m.