Sept. 11, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's men's soccer team was edged by UNLV 2-1 in overtime Sunday, Sept. 11. Jaro Pylypczak (Lombard Ill./Benet Academy) scored the lone goal for the Wildcats, who fall to 2-2 after the loss.
Going into the match, Northwestern's goal was to improve their play following the loss to UC Santa Barbara in the first game of the UNLV FILA Invitational. Offensively and defensively, Northwestern played much better, said head coach Tim Lenahan.
Northwestern struck first just seven minutes into the match. Following a Northwestern shot, UNLV goalkeeper Peter Clitheroe lost a handle on the ball and it rolled right in front of the Rebels' goal. Pylypczak was right there to take advantage of the mistake, and put NU up by one.
While UNLV managed to take 11 shots in the first half, the Wildcats' defense did not allow those shots to be taken with ease. Of those 11 shots, only four were on goal, and Northwestern goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) saved three of them.
With nine minutes remaining in the half, however, UNLV forward Deshawn Woolery controlled a corner kick and put a shot in the upper right corner to tie the score at one.
Coming out of halftime, the 'Cats were primed to put another score on the board. They dominated the second half offensively, taking nine shots, five of which were on goal. Unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn't get one past Clitheroe in the second frame, and Northwestern went to overtime for the second time this season.
Ten minutes into the extra session it was UNLV who would strike again. UNLV's Lamar Neagle took a pass from Woolery and snuck it by Rosenthal, giving the Rebels the 2-1 win.
Despite the loss, Lenahan was impressed with his team's performance. Despite being without a few key defensive contributors, his team's energy, focus and overall play was admirable, Lenahan said.
Junior forward Gerardo Alvarez, who had not played in Northwestern's previous three games, played the entire game against UNLV. He tallied two shots, both on goal, for the match.
The Wildcats are back in action at Northern Illinois this Friday, Sept. 16. The match begins at 4:30 p.m. in DeKalb.