ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. - The University of Northwestern Men's Soccer team traveled to Crown College on Saturday afternoon for its first road game of the 2024 UMAC slate. Northwestern, who was coming off a 1-1 draw with Bethany Lutheran College in its conference opener on Wednesday, was held scoreless by the Polars, and fell by a 3-0 score to drop to 0-1-1 in conference play.
The Eagles fired the first two shots of the game, but Crown converted its first shot on goal into a score in the 15th minute. It appeared the 1-0 score would hold into the halftime break, but the Polars were able to score in the 43rd minute as well to make it 2-0 at the intermission. UNW goalkeeper
Michael Machuca (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) made two early saves in the second half before Crown was able to get on the board again in the 55th minute to take a commanding, 3-0 lead. Northwestern was able to get two shots on goal in the final 22 minutes, but couldn't punch either of them in, leading to a 3-0 final score.
Julian Ortiz Menjivar (Oakdale, Minn./North St. Paul),
Curtis Tinjum (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) and
Garrett Miers (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led UNW with two shots apiece. Tinjum and
Luis Villalobos (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) provided the only shots on goal in the game for the Eagles. Machuca finished with a game-high four saves between the pipes.
Northwestern will have to shake off the loss quickly, as a date with the reigning conference champion awaits. The Eagles will host UW-Superior on Tuesday at 7:00 PM at Reynolds Field.
