DEKALB, Ill. – Two goals in the final six minutes helped Detroit Mercy claim a 2-2 draw against the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 7) at the NIU Soccer Complex. A first half goal from
Vance Sheffield (West Linn, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep) and a second half penalty from
Jaziel Alonso (Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake Central) had NIU in front by a pair until the late comeback from the Titans forced the two teams to settle for a draw.
"It feels like a defeat from the position we were in," said NIU head coach
Ryan Swan. "Detroit Mercy made things really difficult, they played well and when we got a little be of a fortuitous first goal I thought that might relax us and make us play a little bit more. In the second half, we came out well and were playing well but then we threw that one away. From a two-goal lead, to give up two goals in the way we did and drop two points, it's a hard one to take. We have to find a way to bounce back for another huge game on Saturday."
NIU (6-3-2, 3-1-2 Horizon) and Detroit Mercy combined for just three shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes, but it was the hosts that went in front in the 44th minute on Sheffield's fifth goal of the season.
Niko Angulo (Dallas, Texas/Allegiance Academy) latched onto a ball just inside the box and played it back to Sheffield. The Oregon native swiveled on the ball before sending a low shot off the post to the left of Detroit Mercy goalkeeper Colin Monroe and just over the line to put the Huskies in front at the interval.
NIU doubled its lead in the 68th minute as Alonso scored his first collegiate goal from the penalty spot.
Noah Christian (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) played an outstanding ball with the outside of his right foot into the path of
Katai Mukuka (Lusaka, Zambia). His first shot was stopped by Monroe but the rebound fell back toward Mukuka before he was bundled over from behind by a Titan defender and at his feet by Monroe as the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Alonso stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards to put the Huskies in front 2-0.
The visitors pegged the first goal back from a corner kick in the 84th minute. The initial ball from the corner was swept away by the NIU defense but the second ball bounced on the edge of the six-yard box as a pair of players collided and was then headed home at the back post by Tom Nkassa for the Titans to cut the Huskie lead to just one.
Three minutes later, Detroit Mercy (2-7-3, 1-3-1) was level on Thero Mitchell III's fourth goal of the season. The Titans worked the ball down the right wing as Lincoln Floyd and Nick Kamugunga combined before Floyd found Mitchell with enough space to sweep the ball into the net from near the penalty spot to draw the visitors level as the points were shared.
Huskie goalkeeper
Cayden Crawford (Plain City, Ohio/Ohio Connections Academy) made five saves in the contest for the Huskies, Monroe made six for the Titans.
NIU will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 10, when the Huskies travel to Green Bay. Kickoff against the Phoenix is scheduled for 4 p.m.
