Sept. 18, 2009

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Lafayette men's soccer team entered Friday night's game against Northern Illinois riding a five-match unbeaten streak. Unfortunately, that streak came to an end as the Leopards suffered a 5-0 setback to the Huskies on the opening night of the Northwestern Lakeside Classic.

Lafayette (4-1-1) had its chances to score as the Leopards took 17 shots to Northern Illinois' 11 and edged the Huskies in corner kicks, 8-0, but nothing seemed to fall their way. The five goals marked the first time this fall an opponent has scored multiple goals against the Leopard defense and starting goalie Philip Nelson.

Northern Illinois' Luis De La Cerda had a game-high three points (2 g, 1 a).

Junior B.J. Glenn, playing in his third game since returning from injury, led both squads with four shots while Nick Leigh and Blake Fink added three apiece. Six other Lafayette players also registered shots in the game.

The Huskies (3-2-1) scored early and often, netting four first-half goals in a span of 20 minutes. With 14:48 on the clock, John Karsten struck first, scoring his first goal of the season with help in the form of a De la Cerda assist.

Less than five minutes later, De La Cerda picked up his third points of the game with an unassisted goal to make it 2-0.

Northern Illinois' scoring continued when, at the 24:08 mark, De La Cerda netted his second goal with an assist from Juan Hoyos.

Brad Horton closed out the first half scoring with a goal at the 34-minute mark to give his squad a four-goal cushion. Fink gave had one last attempt to get the Leopards on the scoreboard but his shot with less than a minute to play was stopped by Huskies goalie Jordan Godsey.

Lafayette's defense buckled down and gave up only one second-half goal--a score by Johnny Tyma with less than five minutes to play--and the offense fired off another eight shots in the final period, but just could not find the back of the net.

The Leopards are back in action on Sunday when they face No. 24 Northwestern at 3:30 p.m. EST on the final day of the tournament.