MANKATO, Minn. – Sam Mann (Woodbury, Minn./St. Paul Central) (Woodbury, Minn./St. Paul Central) was the hero on Thursday night as the Northwestern College men's soccer team earned its first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) victory of the season in a 2-1 win over Bethany Lutheran College.  Mann scored a goal in each half to lift the Eagles.

Mann's first strike came in the 32nd minute, when his header went past Bethany Lutheran's goalkeeper, Ryan Bolte. Evan Grandlich (Milwaukee, Wis./Lake Country Lutheran) (Milwaukee, Wis. / Lake Country Lutheran) earned an assist on the play.

Bethany Lutheran's Jimmy DuTremaine evened the score six minutes later when his shot sailed over the Eagles' Eric Bocan (Anoka, Minn./Meadow Creek)'s (Anoka, Minn./Meadow Creek) head and into the net.

After a 1-1 score at halftime, Mann came up big again. Stephen Ricks (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) sent a shot off the crossbar and Mann was in the right position to pick up the rebound and take advantage of his viewpoint to score the eventual game-winner in the 49th minute.

Northwestern out-shot the Vikings 24-15 and held the upper hand on shots on goal (9-7) and corner kicks (6-0).

The Eagles, now 2-5 overall this season (1-1 UMAC), will return to campus for a day of classes before heading southwest again to face Martin Luther College on Saturday, September 24 at 12 p.m.