Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Northern Illinois (exh.)
Men's Soccer Battles to 2-2 Draw at NIU
8/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2008
DEKALB, Ill. -- The Marquette men's soccer team continued its exhibition schedule Friday at Northern Illinois with its first and only road contest of the 2008 preseason. Junior Nick Kay and freshman sensation Amilcar Herrera both netted goals in the match, as the Golden Eagles played NIU to a 2-2 draw following three 40-minute periods.
"Overall, it was real encouraging," head coach Louis Bennett said of his team's performance. "We had a real foothold in the game scoring early and missed on a few attacks, which could have swayed the momentum in a different direction. It was a very spirited effort."
Kay gave the Golden Eagles the go-ahead tally on a header off a cross from sophomore Hector Navarro in the third minute of action. Herrera, who was making his debut with the Blue and Gold, was also credited with an assist on the play.
"I thought in the first quarter, we played very well," Bennett added. "We moved the ball quickly and didn't get squeezed into corners."
Marquette maintained its 1-0 advantage through the first period. However, the pitch and the Huskies' style of play soon mounted pressure on the youthful Golden Eagles lineup. According to Bennett, playing at NIU's home football stadium measuring a mere 60 yards wide favored the host's straight-forward offensive attack.
"Given the conditions of a narrow field -- against a team that plays very direct, very forceful -- it was a roller coaster of a game," said Bennett. "It was a hostile environment, a very difficult place to play. But we had to play with the hand that was dealt and we adjusted well. They stretched us out a bit."
NIU scored the equalizer nine minutes into the second half on a penalty kick by Brad Horton. Then, in the 67th minute, the Huskies capitalized on a throw-in which was deflected into he net by Juan Hoyos as NIU grabbed a 2-1 lead.
Marquette again knotted the score, 2-2, when Herrera tallied his first (unofficial) goal as a Golden Eagle off an assist from Tom Lynn in the 80th minute. The final period saw a few MU opportunities, but none that allowed Bennett's squad to escape DeKalb with an outright victory.
"The strategy of the game was to play different personnel in each of the three quarters," said Bennett. "We scored a couple of fantastic goals. It really showed the character of our team."
Fans can catch the Golden Eagles in action when they return to Valley Fields for their final exhibition tilt of the 2008 campaign this Sunday. Marquette will kick off against UW-Oshkosh at 1 p.m. There is not cost of admission.
