MORRIS, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Men's Soccer continued their busy week on Thursday afternoon when they traveled to Morris to take on the Cougars for their second game in three days. Late game heroics gave the Eagles an equalizing goal in the second half as the two teams finished in a 1-1 tie.
The first half was all about the defensive play from each team. The Eagles defense was extremely solid as they only allowed one shot from the Cougars in the first 45 minutes. The Cougars' defense allowed 14 shots in the first half to UNW, but despite the bending that their defense did, they did not break. The first half came and went with no goals being scored by either squad.
In the second half, the Eagles outshot Minnesota-Morris 10-5. However, despite losing the shot and possession battle to the Eagles, it was the Cougars that delivered the opening blow. In the 55
th minute, the home team found a way to crack through the visiting Eagles' defense and score the first goal of the game to take a 1-0 lead.
The game entered the late stages with the Eagles still trailing by a single goal. Despite the deficit, the Eagles stayed calm, continued to play their game, and found a way to deliver an equalizer in the final twenty minutes of the contest. It was
Nathan Martinez (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) who scored his second goal of the season in the 74
th minute to tie the game.
Jonathan-Thomas Olsen (Modesto, Calif./James Enochs High) was credited with the assist on the equalizing goal. The rest of the game would pass scoreless, and the Eagles and the Cougars tied 1-1.
Bodean Gaustad (Andover, Minn./Andover) made two saves in goal for the Eagles in the contest. Offensively, a pair of attackers combined for a lot of offensive opportunities. Olsen, who had an assist in the game, fired off an impressive 8 shots.
Aaron Hill (New Brighton, Minn./Mounds View) had 5 shots in the contest as well.
The busy week for the Eagles is not over yet. UNW has one day off before they play their third and final game of the week. The Eagles will travel to St. Bonifacius to face off with Crown College on Saturday, October 15
th. The game is scheduled for 5:00 P.M.
