#17 Falcons Battle #22 Huskies to 1-1 Draw in DeKalb

Saturday, October 16

DeKalb, IL

8:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

9-2-2, 2-0-1

#22 Northern Illinois

10-1-1, 2-0-1

Bowling Green

Northern Illinois

Jacob Erlandson (center) celebrates his first-half goal on Saturday night

Photo by: Larry Clapper

October 16, 2021 | Men's Soccer

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MAC co-leaders share the points on Saturday night

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

DeKALB, Ill. – The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team and Northern Illinois University shared the points on Saturday night (Oct. 16), as the Falcons and Huskies played to a 1-1, double-overtime draw. The match, a meeting between the Mid-American Conference's co-leaders, was held at the Huskie Soccer and Track & Field Complex.

The Falcons (9-2-2, 2-0-1 MAC) ranked 17th in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, fell behind early, as Zachariah Thomas gave the Huskies (10-1-1, 2-0-1 MAC) the lead with just under 15 minutes gone.

But, in the 34th minute of the match, Jacob Erlandson headed home a Nathan Masters free kick to tie the score against the number-22 Huskies.

Erlandson's goal, his team-leading fifth of the season, ended a shutout streak of 714:40 for the Huskies. NIU had recorded seven-straight shutouts heading into Saturday's match, and the Huskies had not allowed a goal since September 7.

Logan Kowalczyk made two saves for the Falcons on Saturday night, while Martin Sanchez had three stops for the Huskies. Sanchez entered the weekend leading the nation with eight clean sheets this season, while Kowalczyk was tied for second in the country with seven complete-match shutouts.

Both teams had nine total shots and four shots on goal in the match.

NOTE OF THE NIGHT
• The Falcons are undefeated after three MAC matches for the third time in six seasons, but for only the fifth time since the conference began sponsoring men's soccer in 1993.
• BGSU won the first four MAC matches in that '93 campaign before ending the regular-season schedule with a 4-1-0 league mark. Then, the 1996 team went a perfect 5-0-0 in MAC play.
• In 2016, the Falcons got off to a 2-0-1 start and wound up with a 2-0-3 conference mark.
• The 2018 club opened MAC play with a scoreless draw vs. Akron, a 2-1 win at NIU and a 1-1 tie vs. Western Michigan. That squad finished with a 2-1-2 MAC regular-season ledger.

FALCONS REACT
"This was a great match between two good teams. We feel good about the first half, with the exception of conceding the goal we did some great things. But, in order to win games in this conference, we have to maintain our level. That is something we will look to improve on." -- head coach Eric Nichols

HOW IT HAPPENED
• 7' | After Alberto Anaya was fouled, the ensuing free kick wound up at the feet of Sergi Martinez. A Martinez cross was deflected out to Anaya, but his shot was saved by NIU goalkeeper Martin Sanchez.
• 10' | CROSSBAR | Kale Nichols uncorked back-to-back shots after receiving a Martinez pass. The first shot was blocked, but the ball came back to Nichols, who fired again. This time, his shot hit the crossbar and bounced straight down, and the Huskies were able to clear the ball off of the line.
• 15' | GOAL | After a BG pass was stolen in Falcons' defensive end of the field, Nick Markanich slid a pass to Zachariah Thomas on the left side of the box. Thomas won a challenge and hit a shot from the six-yard line that rolled into the far side of the net.
• 31' | Zach Buescher was fouled just outside 18-yard line on the left side of the field. Anaya's ensuing free kick found the head of Jacob Erlandson, but his shot went over the crossbar.
• 32' | A Martinez cross caromed back toward the top of the penalty area, where Jensen Lukacsko hit a hard shot. A Huskie defender was able to get a piece of the ball, and the shot sailed high for a BGSU corner kick.
• 34' | GOAL | After an NIU foul, Nathan Masters took a free kick from the right side of the field. His curving ball found the head of Jacob Erlandson in the center of the penalty area, and Erlandson nodded it past the outstretched arms of Sanchez, tying the score at 1-1.
• 39' | Buescher forced the Huskies into an errant pass in NIU's defensive third. The ball went to Martinez, who quickly slid a pass to Anaya. Anaya hit a shot from the top of the box, but the roller was gathered in by Sanchez.
• 49' | Nichols ran onto a ball on the right side of the field and lofted a cross toward the far side of the six yard box. The ball was just inches out of the reach of Martinez and went out of play for a goal kick.
• 54' | Masters blocked a clearing attempt by Sanchez in the box. The Falcon junior quickly got the ball back and attempted a shot, but a Huskie defender was able to alter the shot with a last-ditch lunging effort.
• 61' | Erlandson got his head on a long throw-in by Joey Akpunonu, but the flick-on went directly to Sanchez at the far post.
• 64' | The Falcons won a corner kick, and the ball bounced toward Kyle Cusimano at the far post. Cusimano, with a defender on him, was able to get a foot on the bouncing ball, but hit shot sailed high.
• 68' | On a counterattack, NIU's Enrique Banuelos fired a shot from the right side of the penalty area, but the ball rolled wide of the left goalpost.
• 78' | A high right-side cross by the Huskies sailed into the penalty area but was punched away by Logan Kowalczyk. Off of the rebound, Pepe Martinez attempted a backheel shot, but it was gathered in by the BGSU goalkeeper.
• 81' | With the Huskies threatening again, Nick Markanich poked the ball over Kowalczyk, but the high arcing ball was headed away from the goalmouth by Jacob Erlandson.
• 89' | NIU won a corner kick with 90 seconds left, just the Huskie's second of the match. That kick, which was not taken until under a minute remained, was headed out of play by a BG defender, leading to a corner kick on the other side of the field. NIU took that kick with just under 30 seconds left in regulation, but as the ball sailed toward the center of the box, an NIU player ran into Kowalczyk, and a foul was called.
• 93' | Miguel Maynez Jr. took a pass from Anthony Markanich after Markanich made a run down the left side. Maynez fired a shot from the 18-yard line, but Kowalczyk made a diving stop.
• 98' | NIU's Eddie Knight took a pass and hit a turnaround shot from the center of the penalty area, but the ball sailed just over the crossbar. Knight's shot was the last for either team on the night.

Gallery: (10-16-2021) M.Soccer at Northern Ill - Oct 16 2021

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Falcons and Huskies, as mentioned, each had nine total shot attempts and four shots on goal. BGSU held a 6-3 lead in corner kicks.
• The teams were whistled for a combined 52 fouls, with 27 called against the Falcons and 25 on the Huskies.
• Jacob Erlandson's goal, as mentioned, was his team-leading fifth of the season. He also leads the Falcons with 13 points. Erlandson now has totals of eight goals and 21 points in 25 matches as a Falcon.
• Nathan Masters picked up his third assist of the year and now has nine points. He has six assists and 16 points in his BGSU career.
• The Falcons had a total of zero substitutions on the night. All 11 starters played all 110 minutes of the match.
• The Huskies entered the match ranked third in the nation in goals per game (2.91) and first in the country in team goals-against average (0.273).
• Overall, the Falcons now have a record of 34-16-6 over the last 56 matches, dating to late in the 2018 season. Twelve of the 16 setbacks in that time have come by a single goal.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons' four-match road swing continues with a Tuesday (Oct. 19) contest at Purdue Fort Wayne (Oct. 19). That contest will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed via ESPN+.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will travel to face Akron on Friday (Oct. 22) and Oakland the following Tuesday (Oct. 26).
• BGSU's lone remaining home regular-season match is against Western Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 30.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on the men's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUmenssoccer), Instagram (bgsumenssoccer) and Facebook (BGMensSoccer) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.