ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Men's Soccer team returned to Reynolds Field on Thursday night to play their third game of the young season. It marked the third and final game of a three game stretch of nonconference contests to start the season. This time, the Eagles played host to the Buena Vista University Beavers from the American Rivers Conference. This was only the second time that these two teams had squared off in program history. The game ended up being a thriller that would end in a 1-1 tie.
The fans who came to watch this nonconference battle saw a game quite unlike any other. It is not every day that fans are treated to a game that sees no goals through the first 88 minutes and then sees the game turn into an action packed, high scoring classic in the last two minutes. That's exactly what happened in Thursday night's contest.
Defense and goaltending was the story for both sides through the majority of the game. Both teams had scoring opportunities, but both teams were turned away by strong back line play and/or outstanding goaltending. The Eagles' owned possession throughout the contest and had the majority of the scoring chances. UNW outshot BVU 22-5 in the game and had ten shots on goal to the Beavers' four.
Buena Vista received an incredible effort from their goaltender Isaiah Thomas. The Eagles executed their offense beautifully all game long but continued to be turned away because of highlight reel saves. UNW even had a penalty kick late in a tied game that was turned away.
Despite the Eagles controlling possession and owning the majority of the scoring chances, it was the visiting Beavers that finally broke the scoreless tie. In the 89
th minute, Buena Vista scored a goal that had the Reynolds Field crowd stunned and speechless. It appeared as if the Beavers had truly stolen a victory in the final moments.
However, if the crowd was stunned, the Eagle players were not. With their backs against the wall, they went to work. In a remarkable turn of events, the Eagles tied the game only 40 seconds later.
Aaron Hill (New Brighton, Minn./Mounds View) passed the ball to
Jackson Bauer (Lake in the Hills. IL./Huntley) who delivered a beautiful, high-arching ball into the box where a pair of Eagles were waiting for it. Freshman
Simeon Friesen (Mounds View, Minn./Mounds View), who picked as good of a time as any for his first career goal, was the one who got to it and knocked it into the back of the net.
The Eagles had scored with less than a minute and a half remaining to tie the game and escape by the skin of their teeth with a draw. A game that had seen 88 scoreless minutes suddenly saw two goals scored in less than 45 seconds.
The Eagles will have just under a week to recover from this chaotic contest. Their next game will be against a UMAC opponent, Bethany Lutheran. The Eagles will travel to Mankato to take on the Vikings in the conference opener at 4:30pm on Wednesday, September 13
th.
