DEKALB, Ill. ? The Western Illinois men's soccer team could not overcome a second half goal, falling 1-0 to Northern Illinois, Sunday.

A scoreless tie was broken in the 54th minute, when the Huskie's (4-5-3) Juan Hoyos received a long ball from goalie Brian Van Buren, and beat Leatherneck (4-6-2) goalkeeper Stephen Paterson (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sir Winston Churchill) for the game's lone score. Josh Karsten also received an assist on the play off the long ball.

Both defenses held strong in the first half, as each team registered three shots on goal. Western received a scoring opportunity from Kevin Hinds just over 10-seconds before halftime, but the attempt was corralled by Van Buren for the Huskies. The only decisive advantage in the first half for either team was in Northern's favor, as they took six corner kicks to Western's one.

In the second half, the Leathernecks got a scoring chance with a corner kick by Preston Bernardi at the 49 minute mark. Unfortunately Western could not get a shot off from the kick. Phil Duret gave Western its next scoring opportunity four minutes later but had his shot blocked by the defense. The ensuing long ball for NIU would result in the goal that proved to be the game winner.

Western would not be able to manage another shot on goal the rest of the way and only four total. Of those four shots taken, Bernardi's, and Dwain Barker's (Barbados/Illinois Central College) were both blocked by the Huskie defense to preserve the shutout.

The loss marked the fourth single-goal loss of the season for Western, and the second to a Mid-American Conference school (Western Michigan, Sept. 16).

The Leathernecks have six days off before they get back into Summit League action, when they travel to UMKC Saturday for a 1 p.m. matchup.