ST. PAUL, Minn. - The University of Northwestern Men's Soccer team took on North Central University on Tuesday afternoon, and all three goals of the game came in an action-packed first half before a defensive battle closed out the second half. The Eagles found the edge with two goals, winning 2-1.
The Eagles' first look came 12 minutes into the match. Luis Villalobos (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) led Jay'ce Jones (Marina del Rey, Calif./Palisades Charter) into the box, but Jones' shot missed just wide of what could have been an opening goal. Only three minutes later, Simeon Friesen (Mounds View, Minn./Homeschool) sent a perfect corner kick into the box, where Nathan Martinez (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) rose above the defense to head home his first goal of the season and put the Eagles up 1-0.
Just four minutes later, Jones applied pressure and dispossessed an NCU defender, and calmly slotted home the second goal to double the lead. David Kobielush (Chaska, Minn./Southwest Christian) nearly added to the tally moments later with a deep strike that missed wide. NCU responded in the 25th minute, capitalizing on a free kick that found a player's foot in the box and slipped past the keeper.
After halftime, the Eagles created several quality chances, including a strike from Spencer Ford (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) that rattled the crossbar midway through the second half. Despite the push, the Eagles couldn't extend their lead but fired off 10 second-half shots in their pursuit. With the win, Northwestern moved to 2-2-2 in conference.
Martinez scored on his lone attempt, Jones tallied a goal on three shots, while Villalobos added four attempts. Jared Mojardin (Denver, Colo./Northeast Early College) landed both of his shots on target, and Hayden DeAnnuntis (Ferndale, Wash./Ferndale) recorded two saves in goal.
The Eagles continue in their home stretch with their Homecoming game this Saturday in a massive UMAC matchup against UW-Superior. Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM following a full day of Homecoming festivities.
