Friday, August 26

Evanston, Ill.

5:00 PM

Northwestern

0-1-0

Eastern Illinois

1-0-0

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
Eastern Illinois	0	1	1	2
Northwestern	1	0	0	1

Oliver Kupe picked up where he left off last season, tallying a first-half goal to put NU in front early.

Northwestern Stunned by Eastern Illinois in Overtime, 2-1

8/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Aug. 26, 2011

Box Score

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Lakeside Field)
Score: Eastern Illinois 2, Northwestern 1 (OT)
Records: NU (0-1-0), Eastern Illinois (1-0-0)
Next NU Event: Thursday, Sept. 1 -- vs. California (Bridgeview, Ill.; Toyota Park), 7 p.m.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior forward Oliver Kupe put the Northwestern men's soccer team ahead in the first half, but Eastern Illinois spoiled the Wildcats' season-opener by rallying for a 2-1 overtime win Friday evening at Lakeside Field.

Will Butler tallied the game-winner with 6:31 remaining in the first extra period. The play was set up by a long throw-in that reached the box and NU goalkepper Tommy Tombridge punched the ball away but it went off the left post. Butler was waiting on the goalline to clean up the play, barely sneaking the ball over the line for the winning goal.

The Wildcats controlled possession throughout the majority of the first half and their efforts paid off at the 6:57 mark when Kupe finished off a perfect through ball from Jarrett Baughman at approximately 10 yards out to beat Tyler Kelley to put the hosts in front.

Northwestern held a 4-2 edge in shots over the opening 45 minutes of play but was never able to build upon its early tally.

Baughman nearly made it a two-goal game just over 15 minutes into the second stanza as he flicked a header following a free kick, but Evan Turner, who started the second half in goal for the Panthers, was able to come up with the safe.

Eastern Illinois finally broke through for the equalizer with just under 13 minutes remaining. Mike Picinich's rocket from 25 yards out from beyond the top left corner of the box found the upper right corner of the goal to make it 1-1.

EIU's defense clamped down and limited the Wildcats to just one shot over the last 35 minutes of regulation to help force the extra session. It took the Panthers just under two-and-a-half minutes into the first overtime to notch the decisive goal.

Northwestern held a 6-1 edge in corner kicks, but was out-shot 10-7. Tombridge made three saves for the Wildcats.

NU returns to action at 7 p.m. Thursday as it travels to Bridgeview, Ill., to face California at Toyota Park, the home of the Chicago Fire of the MLS.

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