Nov. 2, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

DURHAM, N.C. - Luis De La Cerda kick-started Northern Illinois with a goal in the 75th minute, but the Huskie comeback bid fell short, as the men's soccer team dropped a 3-1 result to Duke, Sunday.

The Blue Devils (10-5-2) scored twice in the first eight minutes, making NIU chase for most of the match.

"We gave away two goals at the beginning of the game and dug ourselves a major hole," head coach Steve Simmons said.

Simmons attributes the rough start to a lack of energy from his team in the first third of the match.

"We were pretty flat for the first 30 minutes," he said. "I thought we brought better energy toward the end of the first half, and pretty consistent energy in the second half."

The Huskies (8-5-4, 3-1-1 Mid-American Conference) generated just three shots in the first half, but tripled their chances in the second period to nine.

"I thought we outworked them in the second half," Simmons said. "We needed to have much more of an opportunistic edge after we started the way we started."

The Huskie push in the second half led to six shots on goal, including De La Cerda's (Guadalajara, Mexico/Waubonsie Valley) goal, which was assisted by Jay Aikenhead (West Chicago, Ill./Wheaton Academy) and Josh Karsten (Barrington Hills, Ill./Barrington).

"We kept pressuring them and were able to capitalize on a scrap in the box by being first to the ball," Simmons said.

The Huskies wrap-up the regular season, Thursday, Nov. 6, with a match on the road against Western Michigan.