Huskies and Western Michigan Play to Scoreless Draw

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University males’s soccer staff and Western Michigan mixed for 9 pictures on track however neither aspect was capable of break the impasse because the Huskies and Broncos performed to a 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11) on the WMU Soccer Complex. 

“A draw is probably a fair result,” stated NIU head coach Ryan Swan. “It was a closely contested battle, but I think we probably created the best chance of the game, it is one we would like to finish. We had a couple of really good opportunities and couldn’t quite find that finishing touch. Atahan (Arslan) had to come up with a big save for us and Joe Hernandez had two massive moments defensively for us, just determination in the latter stages of the game and made fantastic runs back. So, I supposed when you put it all together, we have to be happy (with a draw).”

NIU’s first take a look at aim got here within the twentieth minute as Joe Hernandez (Bensenville, Ill./York Community) whistled a shot excessive from exterior the field. 

Atahan Arslan (Ismir, Turkiye) was known as into motion 4 minutes later as Braden Stevanovic lower in from the left aspect and fired a low shot to Arslan’s left, however the Huskie goalkeeper received down properly to make the save. 

Hernandez had one other take a look at aim within the thirty sixth minute as he collected the ball about 30 yards from aim, took a contact and fired a low shot that was held by Western Michigan goalkeeper Alex Lindewirth. 

Tobias Crear (Carrollton, Texas/Creekview) then had an opportunity as he received on the tip of a brief cross and volleyed again throughout aim towards the far higher nook. Lindewirth palmed Crear’s fortieth minute shot away nevertheless as the competition went into halftime scoreless. 

Just previous the hour mark, the Huskies had a free kick broad of the field and it appeared that NIU would swing in a cross, however Jose Gomez (Roatan, Honduras) opted for the shot as an alternative, seeking to catch Lindewirth off guard, however the Bronco goalkeeper parried it away for a nook. 

Arslan made an impressive response save within the 76th minute as Western Michigan floated a free kick into the field and Christian Shannon’s shot from about 12 yards was fought off by the NIU goalkeeper. 

Gomez slid previous a few Bronco defender within the eightieth minute earlier than attending to the sting of the six-yard field at a decent angle the place his shot was pushed apart by Lindewirth for a NIU nook. 

The Huskies ought to have gone in entrance within the 87th minute as NIU performed Vance Sheffield (West Linn, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep) in behind the Western Michigan protection. The freshman ahead skipped round Lindewirth however simply could not type out his toes to slip the ball into an empty aim. 

Both groups had an opportunity within the closing minute. Sheffield collected the ball on the prime of the Western Michigan 18-yard field, turning a defender earlier than firing a shot broad. Alek Markovski then had a header within the closing seconds from the highest of the NIU six-yard field, however his header went excessive as NIU and Western Michigan settled for a scoreless draw. 

NIU will return to motion subsequent Friday, Oct. 17, when the Huskies host Belmont. Kickoff towards the Bruins is scheduled for six p.m.