MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois (0-5-0) men's soccer team dug themselves out of a two-goal deficit and had the final opportunity of the match, but just ran out of time in a 3-2 loss against Northwestern (2-3-0) on Thursday (Sept. 12) evening.
"A good response to the early goals we gave up but still frustrating to go down by two so early in the game," Director of Soccer Dr. Eric Johnson said. " We had good moments for us in the attack in the first half, and we are continuing to learn each game."
In the final seconds of the match, Western earned a free kick off a Northwestern yellow card. Caleb Ragland sent the ball into the box, but no Leatherneck could find a head on it as the clock struck zero.
The Big 10 foe earned the game-winning goal after a successful penalty kick from Garrett Opperman in the 86th minute.
WIU erased Northwestern's early lead on two unassisted goals. Less than a minute later after their second goal, Enric Ferrer secured the ball of a failed clearance in the middle of the box and buried it into the left side to make it 2-1 at the 10-minute mark.
Midway through the first half, Mitchell Moynihan ('22) tied the game as he scored his team-leading second goal of the season. Both of Western's shots on goal found the back of the net in the first half.
The Wildcats owned a 2-0 advantage through the first two minutes as goals came in the 1st and 9th minute of the match.
The Purple and Gold stay at home to start the week against Drake on Tuesday (Sept. 17) before making the trip to Kansas City on Saturday (Sept. 21).
