STORM LAKE, IA.- After two home games last week, the University of Northwestern Men's Soccer team was back on the road to start off a new week. The Eagles traveled to Storm Lake, Iowa on Monday night for a nonconference match up with the Beavers of Buena Vista University. The Eagles continued their strong play, winning their third consecutive game, 3-1.
The Eagles wasted no time making themselves at home on the road.
Curtis Tinjum (Wausau, Wisc./Wausau West), who scored a hat trick in Saturday's win over Minnesota-Morris, continued his hot streak by scoring less than six minutes into the contest. The goal was Tinjum's fourth of the season and was assisted by
Aaron Hill (New Brighton, Minn./Mounds View).
The assist would not be Hill's only impact on the game. The sophomore scored a goal of his own (his first of the season) in the 20
th minute, with
Nathan Martinez (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) delivering the assist this time. The Eagles were leading 2-0 nearly halfway through the first half, but their stellar play would continue all the way up to the halftime whistle.
Luis Villalobos (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) scored the first goal of his season and career off of a pass from
Mitchell Pfeifer (Blaine, Minn./Avail Academy) in the 44
th minute to give the Eagles a comfortable 3-0 lead going into the half.
However, immediately in the second half, Buena Vista appeared as if they were going to attempt to fight back into the game. The Beavers scored their first goal of the afternoon less than a minute and forty seconds into the second half to cut the Eagles' lead to 3-1. The Eagles would recover, tighten down their defense, and not allow another goal for the remainder of the contest to win the game 3-1.
The Eagles were firing on all cylinders in the match, specifically in the first half. In the first 45 minutes UNW outshot BVU 12-3, on their way to outshooting the Beavers 14-7 in the contest. The Eagles had four corner kicks in the game and remarkably did not allow a single corner kick opportunity to their opponent.
Andrew Skoglund (Northfield, Minn./Skoglund Academy) played the majority of the contest in net for UNW tallying four saves, while
Bodean Gaustad (Andover, Minn./Andover) also played between the pipes for the Eagles.
Jonathan-Thomas Olsen (Modesto, Calif./James Enochs High) and
Alejandro Alfaro (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) had the most scoring opportunities for the Eagles, each firing off four shots in the game.
The Eagles will return back home and back into UMAC play on Thursday, September 29
th when they host Martin Luther at 7:30 P.M.
