DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team saw its unbeaten streak end at four as the Huskies fell to Milwaukee, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 19) at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Panthers took a two-goal lead by the hour mark before Steven Ljubicic (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) netted his second goal of the season for NIU.
"Hugely disappointed to have dropped three points," said NIU head coach
Ryan Swan. "We had put ourselves in a pretty good position in conference, came into today feeling pretty good about where we were as a team but disappointed to drop three points and a trophy along with it. The two goals we conceded we had highlighted in the pregame scout. It wasn't a great performance from us, and you are going to drop points when you perform like that."
Milwaukee (4-3-2, 2-1-0 Horizon) was in front inside eight minutes as Jack Wagner nodded home from close range. A Panther free kick was floated into the box where a NIU defender headed it wide of the Huskie goal, but only as far as Felix Huwiler who headed it back in front of goal where Wagner rose highest to head it into the net and give the visitors an early lead.
Cayden Crawford (Plain City, Ohio/Ohio Connections Academy) made a good save just four minutes later as a turnover on the edge of the box led to a chance for Dominic Zuniga that was parried away by the NIU goalkeeper.
NIU (4-3-1, 1-1-1 Horizon) had its first real look at goal in the 23rd minute as
Jakub Drazek (Des Plaines, Ill./Elk Grove) flashed a shot from distance just wide.
The final chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to
Katai Mukuka (Lusaka, Zambia) whose shot went wide in the 36th minute.
NIU had most of the possession early in the second half, but it was the visitors who doubled their advantage in the 61st minute. A wide free kick for Milwaukee dropped near the top of the six-yard box where he was headed back toward the near post before a Huskie defender redirected it into the net on the opposite side for a goal.
Ljubicic pulled a goal back for the Huskies in the 71st minute. NIU worked the ball wide to Romah Khela (Huddersfield, England) who whipped a cross in toward the six-yard box. Ljubicic flicked a header down off the wet turf and past Milwaukee goalkeeper Carson Pridie to cut the Panther lead to 2-1.
Five minutes from full time,
Tomasz Slawek (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) had an opportunity to equalize for the hosts as Khela's free kick found the head of Slawek at close range but his header was straight into the hands of Pridie as Milwaukee secured the three points and retained the Lewang Cup.
NIU will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Huskies travel to Wright State. Kickoff against the Raiders is slated for 2 p.m.
