Northwestern Blows By Valparaiso, 4-2

Wednesday, October 4

Evanston, Ill.

3:30 PM

Northwestern

9-3, 1-2

Valparaiso

6-5, 2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Valparaiso	0	2	2
Northwestern	2	2	4

Dave Roth now has six goals and four assists on the season for 16 points.

10/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 4, 2006

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Seven different Wildcats recorded at least one point today as Northwestern defeated Valparaiso 4-2 at a windy and chilly Lakeside Field in Evanston. David Roth and Geoff Fallon each had a goal and an assist on the afternoon for the Wildcats who take on Indiana at 6 p.m. Saturday night in Bloomington.

The win moves NU to 9-3 overall, already matching its win total from a year ago, while Valpo dips to 6-5.

The windy conditions forced almost the entire game to played on the south side of the field as both teams struggled somewhat against the high winds.

"The wind conditions today reminded me of when the win blows out at Wrigley (Field)," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "No lead was safe. We knew we had to score in the first half because of the wind and did a good job putting two goals on the board. We did a great job countering in the second half to put the game away. As I said, no lead was safe and Valpo scoring two late goals proved that theory. I thought Dave Roth, Geoff Fallon and Mark Blades were very good on the day. The guys dedicated this game to Will Nicholas and I was glad to come away with a win against a pretty good Valpo team."

The Wildcats had the wind to their backs in the first period and took full advantage, outshooting the Crusaders 11-1 in the half.

Drew Ratner scored the first goal of the match, his second of the season, when he was the recipient of Roth's free kick that bounced off the post and right into his lap directly in front of the goal for the 1-0 lead.

The 'Cats then extended the game to 2-0 when freshman Mark Blades notched his first collegiate goal off a deep assist from fellow classmate Eamon O'Neill.

Northwestern then had to battle the high winds in the second half, but it hardly effected its offense as goals by Fallon (69th minute) and Roth (75th minute) made the score 4-0 in favor of the Wildcats. Brad North and Carl Pett assisted on Fallon's goal while Fallon assisted on Roth's team-best sixth goal of the season.

The Crusaders finally got on the board in the 81st minute when Andrew Stewart tapped in a bouncing ball in front of a flurry of players in front of the goal, which came off a Valpo corner.

Jeremy Stacy then added Valpo's second goal when his shot from the far right sideline took flight in the high winds and somehow found the top-left corner of the net past a stretching Will Briley.

Briley (7-3) picked up the victory in goal, making five saves. Ryan Schwarz (6-5) took the loss, recording three saves.