Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Northern Illinois
Northwestern Defeats Northern Illinois, 2-0
9/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 25, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern continued its progress as a soccer program, knocking off Northern Illinois, 2-0, on Wednesday at Lakeside Field. The Wildcats, who improved to 4-4 on the season, earned their first home win since Nov. 4, 1999.
Kevin Earnest (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) netted the game-winner at the 25:33 mark. Alexander Renzi (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) took a Wildcat corner kick and hit Earnest for a headball goal.
"This is why I came here," said senior Steve Jedlinski (Palatine, Ill./Palatine). "We have a great coach and a great group of guys."
Renzi added the second goal in the second half after an NIU turnover, giving him and Tito Lara (Joliet, Ill./Joliet) a two-on-one situation. Lara tapped the ball to Renzi, who put it past a diving Steve Goletz.
The Wildcats controlled the ball most of the game, limiting the Huskies to five shots. J.D. Martin (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) picked up his third shutout of the season.
"We did a good job managing the lead," said NU head coach Tim Lenahan. "That is what you have to do with a two-goal lead. Our young guys stepped up, but you also have to give J.D. (Martin) a lot of credit. He made great decisions and took away a lot of scoring chances."
The Wildcats open up the Big Ten slate on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. at Michigan State.
