Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Northern Illinois (exh.)
Men's Soccer Defeats Northern Illinois, 1-0
8/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 26, 2007
MILWUAKEE - Freshman Josh Curry hit a close-range volley in the game's final minute to give Marquette a 1-0 win over Northern Illinois in its final exhibition contest.
Marquette owned much of the play for the duration of the game, but took all 90 minutes before scoring the game winner. Curry connected on the only tally after receiving a cross from junior Duncan Silvert-Noftle. The goal scoring play started from a build-up that worked to the middle. Northern Illinois cleared to the side before Silvert-Noftle collected and entered the ball to the dangerous area in front of the goal mouth.
"As soon as it came back, we got it outside and placed in front of the net," head coach Louis Bennett said. "The entry was a little flat, but Duncan got a good curve on it to get into position. Josh did a good job of getting between two players to get to the ball to score it. We try to create four to five different scenarios that are going to put us in a position to score a goal, and that was definitely one of those scenarios."
Marquette owned a 13-5 shot advantage, most of those came in the second half as the Golden Eagles dominated play in the final 45 minutes. Marquette had three first-half shots. Bennett said there was a definite difference in pace and attitude in his team between the two halves.
"I thought we did a much better job in the second half of creating our chances," he said. "In the first half, we were a little blah. That's the one thing that we never want to be is blah. We changed some personnel and we changed some attitudes and that proved to be contagious to provide for a better second half."
One of the players who created in the final 45 was sophomore Michael Greene. Greene, an outside forward, dropped to an attacking midfield and played well on both ends, causing fits with his speed, especially when teamed with freshman Sam Etim. Bennett also gave credit to freshman Matt Stummer for changing the team's determination in the second half.
"Michael Greene and Matt Stummer, with their speed and finesse changed the game for us," he said. "That was contagious. Here are two of the smallest but toughest guys on the team playing hard. The others said, `if they can do it, so can I.'"
Also having a good game was freshman Stefan Antonijevic. The lanky midfielder played all 90 minutes and has been on the field for every minute of action in the preseason to provide some stability to the central midfield.
While the offense showed continued improvement through the game, the defense was up to the task for the full 90. Freshman goalkeeper Steve Purdy only faced five shots and was only needed for two saves. Sophomore Billy Von Rueden was at the center of the defense and its success against the Huskies.
Bennett attributed the success up front and in the back to the depth and attitude of the squad.
"We were concerned a bit about making mistakes in the first half, "he said. "If we just go out and play with the confidence and ability we know we have, the game will come to us. We did a much better job of that in the second half. And we have some depth, so we don't have tired or unfit players out there with the possibility of making mistakes. We have the ability to have fresh players who are focused on what they are doing."
Bennett also lauded Purdy, who continued his scoreless streak. He didn't allow a goal in 30 minutes against Northwestern, in 90 in the intrasquad game on Friday and in 90 today. He is in the lineup for the injured Matt Pyzdrowski, who is going to miss at least one, if not two, more weeks as he recuperates from a mid-air collision to the head in the Northwestern contest.
The Golden Eagles have concluded the pre-season and now focus on the games that count in the win loss column. Marquette opens its regular season on Friday, August 31, visiting Denver at noon (MDT).
