Tuesday's Scoreboard
NIU 3, Chicago State 0
Georgia State 2, Davidson 0
Bowling Green 2, Detroit Mercy 0
West Virginia 3, Dayton 0
Marshall 2, Akron 0
Stories Courtesy of MAC Sports Information
NIU 3, Chicago State 0
Box Score
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Two goals in the opening five minutes helped the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team earn a comfortable 3-0 victory over Chicago State on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 21) on the Turf Field at SeatGeek Stadium. Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia), Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) and Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) scored for the Huskies.
With the win, NIU improved to 7-1 overall while Chicago State dropped to 2-4-1. NIU's six-straight wins is the longest win streak for the program since winning six consecutive games in the middle of the 2006 campaign. The Huskies also set a new school record by scoring three or more goals in six consecutive games.
"If you look at Chicago State's results, they have been in a lot of overtime games and had a lot of close results, so it was very important that we got off to a quick start," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "We were delighted to get the two goals in the first five minutes."
It took NIU less than three minutes to open the scoring Banuelos headed home the opening goal off a corner. Adrian Corona (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central whipped the corner inside the six-yard box and Banuelos climbed above the crowd to power home the opening goal of the contest.
Less that two minutes later, NIU doubled its advantage from its second corner kick of the contest. Corona put another ball in a dangerous area and this time it was Anthony Markanich who rose highest, heading the ball into the back of the net to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead in the fifth minute.
In the 26th minute, Nick Markanich added a third for the Huskies. After creating some space for himself for a shot, the Huskie senior forward unleashed a rocket into the upper corner of the net past Chicago State goalkeeper Joe Bowles.
The goal was Nick Markanich's 10th of the season, the most in the nation, and marked the sixth consecutive game in which he has scored, tying a school record set by Eirik Frederiksen who scored in six consecutive games between Oct. 16, 1997, and Nov. 6, 1997.
After the interval, Banuelos nearly added a second goal midway through the second half with a shot that hit the post before it could be scrambled away by the Cougars defense.
In the 76th minute, Zachariah Thomas (Burnaby, British Columbia/Moscrop Secondary) burst down the wing and cut inside for a shot, forcing an excellent save from Bowles.
Two minutes from full time, Thomas again had an excellent chance that required a very good save from Bowles.
Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) finished the contest with his fifth shutout of the season, and the fourth consecutive for the Huskies. NIU has now gone 411:33 without conceding a goal.
"Chicago State was confident throughout the game, worked hard and made it difficult," said Swan. "They were very physical and very direct in their play, and I think we will see more of that in the coming week, so this was a good test for us."
NIU will return to action on Saturday night, Sept. 25, when the Huskies travel to Green Bay, Wis., to meet the Phoenix. Kickoff against Green Bay is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+.
Georgia State 2, Davidson 0
Box Score
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Sophomore Simon Carlson scored less than three minutes into the game and it proved to be all the Georgia State men's soccer needed in a 2-0 win at Davidson on Tuesday night.
Playing in a steady rain most of the night, Georgia State improved to 5-2 on the season, while dropping Davidson to 4-3.
After a multiple deflections in the box, Carlson got the Panthers on the board in the third minute for his second goal of the season. The goal came off an assist from Bryan Silva.
Freshman Ethan Sassine added an open net goal with just four seconds to play in the game for the final margin of victory. It was his third goal of the season which shares the team lead with Justin Guest.
Junior goalkeeper Gunther Rankenburg recorded his third clean sheet of the year facing nine Davidson shots, including two shots on goal.
Bowling Green 2, Detroit Mercy 0
Box Score
Story Coming Soon...
West Virginia 3, Dayton 0
Box Score
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 4-ranked West Virginia University men's soccer team earned a 3-0 win over Dayton on Tuesday night at a rainy Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
Senior forward Yoran Popovic opened the scoring with a 20th-minute goal, before redshirt sophomore defender Kyle Lehnert doubled the lead in the 77th. The Mountaineers also added a late, third tally off a Flyer own goal.
The win bumps WVU's season-opening unbeaten streak to seven matches, the team's best start to a campaign since 2006.
"This was pleasing," WVU coach Dan Stratford said. "We knew (Dayton) was going to come with a lot of energy to start the game. I thought after about 15 minutes, we settled in, and then it was about making sure we got the second goal. It took a little longer than what I would've liked, but I'm very pleased with how we came out in the second half."
After Popovic put a pair of early shots on frame, the Zuidlaren, Netherlands, native got the Mountaineers on the board in the 20th minute when he found a loose ball in front of goal. It marked his second goal in as many games, as well as his first career game-winner.
West Virginia (5-0-2) went on to hold a 9-3 advantage in first-half shots but took just a 1-0 lead into the locker room for halftime.
In the second half, sophomore midfielder Ryan Crooks nearly doubled the lead in the 67th minute with a direct free kick from the top of the box. However, the chance sailed just high.
Then, Lehnert, who also made his first start of the campaign on Tuesday, took on a pass from across the box off the foot of fifth-year senior midfielder Pau Jimenez Albelda to make it 2-0. Along with being his first career goal, Lehnert also became the 10th different Mountaineer to score for the squad this season.
In the 88th minute, Lehnert appeared to put another ball on frame, following a skillful pass from Popovic. That's when a UD defender misplayed a clearance, resulting in an own goal.
Dayton (3-3-2) was held without a shot attempt in the second half and became the first WVU opponent to finish without a single shot on goal since Princeton on Sept. 3, 2016.
The Mountaineers, meanwhile, finished with a season-best 18 shots and held a 7-0 advantage in shots on goal. WVU also recorded an 8-5 edge in corner kicks.
Popovic led the way with four shots on the night, including three on frame.
In goal, fifth-year senior goalkeeper Steven Tekesky earned the clean sheet, his fourth of the season and 24th of his WVU career. Additionally, he moved into sole possession of No. 2 in career wins (38) in program history.
With the win, West Virginia improved to 3-1 against the Flyers all time. The club also improved to 4-0-1 at home this fall.
Next up, the Mountaineers continue their three-match homestand by playing host to St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Sept. 25, at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
