Oct. 20, 2009

Box Score | Quotes (Audio)

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois University scored two early goals on its way to a 5-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team Tuesday afternoon at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Huskies (7-6-1) do maintain possession of the LeWang Cup with the win over the Panthers (3-9-2).

"You look at the first 15 minutes and it could have gone either way," Milwaukee head coach Jon Coleman said. "Then things started to open up for them and once that started we just couldn't close the door. We gave up too much of the play today. We didn't do a good job preventing them from doing what they wanted to do. It wasn't one of our better days and I am glad we got it out of the way now."

NIU netted a pair of goals in the 18th and 26th minutes, yet the game was fairly even at the half possession-wise and on the stat sheet.

It appeared as though the Panthers had cut the deficit in half with about six minutes left in the first half, but sophomore Tony Maxey had his goal wiped away by an offsides call.

NIU wasted little time adding to its lead after intermission, scoring on a penalty kick in the 47th minute.

Sophomore Ross Van Osdol nearly helped UWM get back in the game, but his pair of quality shots in the 50th minute went just high and just left of the goal.

Junior Peter Sanger broke up the shutout in the 88th minute with a goal off a 19-yard free kick following a foul just outside the top of the penalty area.

NIU would add its final tallies in the 64th and 83rd minutes.

The Panthers were outshot just 19-to-16 on the day, including 12-to-6 on goal. NIU had six of the match's eight corner kicks and was whistled for 14 of the 23 fouls. Van Osdol led the offense with five shots; freshman John Shakon ended with seven saves in defeat.

Milwaukee is back in action Saturday, hosting Valparaiso in a big game in the league standings, starting at 7 p.m.