Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
IPFW
Northwestern Opens With 2-0 Win Over IPFW
9/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern began its season on the right foot Wednesday, defeating Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne 2-0 at the Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex.
The win marks the first in a season-opener for the Wildcats since 1998, when NU beat UW-Milwaukee 3-2.
"The progress is clearly measurable," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "We came out strong in the first half and were a play or two from making it 3-0 early."
Northwestern (1-0) made its first score of the year in the 35th minute on a set piece when Brad Napper (Dallas, Texas/Jesuit College Prep) headed home a Gerardo Alvarez (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) service to take a 1-0 lead into the half.
The Wildcats outshot the Mastadons 8-1 in the half and 14-5 in the game.
NU added their second goal just 2:25 into the second half when Napper was pulled down by a Mastadon (0-1) defender in the box, earning a penalty kick which Alvarez put in the back of the net.
From there the two squads played fairly evenly, with both keepers being forced to make some good saves.
"I give IPFW a lot of credit, they kept playing hard," Lenahan said. "We got a little too relaxed in the second half and Heckenbach had to make a good save to keep us up by two."
Justin Pines (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) started the game in goal for the Wildcats while Brian Heckenbach (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) played the second half. Each keeper made one save to earn the combined shutout.
Daniel Chille (Lake Zurich, Ill./Stevenson) came off the bench for Northwestern and fired four shots.
The Wildcats return to action at 2:30 Saturday when they host Butler in the Adidas North Shore Classic. College of Charleston will face Iona in the day's first game at noon.
