A pair of second half goals from Eddie Knight (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star) helped propel the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Chicago State on Monday night (Oct. 17) at the NIU Soccer Complex.
"At this point there is three games to go, four including today, and realistically we had to win all four to have a shout to be in the conference championship," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "So, it was a huge result, and we are delighted to get three points. We are happy to get the points, but we know that we have to be better if we are going to win the final three games."
After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, the first chance of the second half came in the 52nd minute as NIU (5-5-4, 2-2-1 MAC) built down the right side with Camilo Estrada (Dallas, Texas/Lone Star) playing the final ball to Diego Maynez (El Paso, Texas/Lone Star) who fired just wide.
Six minutes later, Angel Rodriguez (Elgin, Ill./Ignite Christian Academy) tested Chicago State goalkeeper Sunny Dhaliwal with a free kick from about 25 yards, but Dhaliwal was able to make the save and hold on.
The Huskies went in front in the 65th minute on Knight's first goal of the contest. Dylan Banker (McHenry, Ill./McHenry West) played a deep cross to Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) near the penalty spot. Banuelos took a touch and fired a shot that hit the post, but Knight was alert to tap the rebound into an open goal and give the Huskies the lead.
Moments after the kickoff, Niall Reid-Stephen turned away from a Huskie defender and got into the box for a shot from a tight angle that forced a save from NIU goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy).
In the 69th minute, Adrian Corona (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) fired a shot from distance that had Dhaliwal rooted to his spot, but the shot tailed just wide of the far post.
Chicago State (1-10-3, 0-5-0 MAC) earned a free kick just over 30 yards from goal in the final minute. Reid-Stephen's initial shot from the free kick was blocked by the NIU wall and the Huskies were able to scramble the ball away and counter 2-on-0.
Banuelos played the ball into the path of Knight who got behind Dhaliwal and tapped into the open net in the final seconds to secure the win for the Huskies.
"He looked dangerous the whole time he was on the field," said Swan of Knight. "He has that explosive speed and sometimes scoring goals is just a mentality, so getting a couple of goals today will hopefully be a confidence boost and this would be a great time to hit a little purple patch of scoring."
Sanchez made three saves while earning his fourth shutout of the season, Dhaliwal recorded one stop for the Cougars.
In the first half, Maynez had a chance from a corner that he volleyed wide in the 16th minute. Three minutes later, Manyez nearly caught Dhaliwal off his line but his chip attempt from outside the 18 went wide.
Estrada lined up a free kick in the 23rd minute, sending his shot well high as nearly goalkeeper was forced into a save in the opening 45 minutes.
NIU will be back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 25, when the Huskies host Bowling Green. Game time against the Falcons is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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