The Milwaukee men’s soccer team secured a 2-0 victory over Northern Illinois at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Panthers, now with a record of 3-1-3, took an early lead with goals from Raul Medina and Alejandro Martinez within the first 12 minutes of play.
Head coach Kris Kelderman praised his team’s performance: “I thought we started out the game very well,” he said. He highlighted the defensive effort and management of the game as key factors in securing the win. “It’s a great bounce-back for our guys after just a couple of days – very pleased and happy for the guys.”
Daniel Ibarra’s goalkeeping was crucial, earning him his third shutout of the season. Coach Kelderman commended several players for their individual performances: “Alé (Martinez) picks up his sixth goal; Danny (Ibarra), great performance in the goal; Raul (Medina) I thought was the best player on the pitch today.”
The match saw Milwaukee take control early on, with Mesfin Roda assisting both goals. Medina scored first at 9:17, followed by Martinez’s finish from a through ball at 11:18. Despite several attempts to extend their lead, including efforts from Ryan Berghauer and Asher Ozuzu, they maintained their two-goal advantage until full-time.
In terms of statistics, Northern Illinois had more total shots with an 18-13 edge but trailed in shots on target at 6-5. They also led in corner kicks but committed more fouls than Milwaukee.
Reflecting on this success, Kelderman stated: “We have three trophies that we play for each year… It’s a great feeling.” The Panthers will next face Robert Morris in Pennsylvania as they continue their Horizon League campaign.
