DEKALB, Ill. -- Stevan Ljubicic's (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) first collegiate goal and a game winner from
Vance Sheffield (West Linn, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep) helped the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 5) at Lakeside Field.
The contest was scoreless in the opening 45 minutes, and the hosts scored early in the second half before Ljubicic tied it in on the hour-mark and Sheffield netted the winner 10 minutes from time.
"I didn't think it was a great performance from from us today," said NIU head coach
Ryan Swan. "We had to grind this one out. EIU dominated proceedings in the first half, they missed a penalty and created a couple other chances. We weren't very good (in the first half), it was hot, the conditions were tough to play in, but I was a little disappointed.
"Happy with the way we responded in the second half after conceding the goal. The guys found a way to get back in it. It was great to see Stevie (Ljubicic) get his first goal, and Vance (Sheffield) get a goal and an assist. It looked like there were so good options for us in the final third."
Less than three minutes into the contest, Eastern Illinois earned a penalty kick. Andre Ecker stepped up to take the spot kick for the Panthers and fired it wide.
That was the best chance of the opening 45 minutes for either side as the game went to the interval scoreless.
Just over three minutes into the second half, the Panthers went in front. A foul 20 yards from goal gave the hosts a free kick and Bernardo Hanel stepped up and fired a shot around the NIU wall and past Huskie goalkeeper
Cayden Crawford (Plain City, Ohio/Ohio Connections Academy) to give Eastern Illinois the lead in the 49th minute.
In the 60th minute the Huskies were level as Sheffield won a tackle in midfield and slipped a ball into the run of Ljubicic. The freshman striker fired a shot in off the underside of the crossbar past EIU goalkeeper Samuel Toruno with his first touch from about 12 yards to tie the contest at 1-1.
With 10 minutes left, Sheffield ran toward a ball in the box, colliding with Toruno and an Eastern Illinois defender. With the ball still rolling toward goal, the NIU sophomore was the first to react, jumping to his feet and poking the ball into an open goal for his second goal of the season and the third game-winning goal of his Huskie career.
Crawford finished with two saves in goal for the Huskies, earning his third win of the season, Toruno made three stops for the Panthers.
NIU will return home on Wednesday, Sept. 9, as the Huskies host IU Indy in their Horizon League opener. Kickoff against the Jaguars is scheduled for 4 p.m.
