Oct. 27, 2006
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- With the final minutes ticking away and darkness on the horizon, it appeared both Northwestern and Northern Illinois were going to end their respective regular-seasons with a 0-0 tie after nearly 110 minutes of grueling soccer in cold and wet conditions.
But that wasn't the way this year's seniors wanted to go out in their final game at the Lakeside Field.
Geoff Fallon found senior forward Brad North for the game-winner with 1:09 left in the second overtime period as the Wildcats capped off the regular-season in dramatic fashion with a 1-0 win over the 24th-ranked Huskies Friday on senior day.
After the goal the Wildcats mobbed North in front of the goal in a pile-up celebration -- perhaps no better way to cap off the home careers for North and the rest of this year's senior class who were honored prior to the match. Those members included Gerardo Alvarez, Rich Nassif, Kyle Moore, John Carlstedt, Jeff Mills, Justin Pines, Daniel Pydo, Will Nicholas, Daniel Chille and North.
The win give this year's senior class 42 combined wins over the last four years, tying the all-time mark set by the 1988 seniors. The 42 wins by this class, however, are the most since Big Ten play started in 1991.
"It was a great win over a very good opponent," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "(NIU head coach) Steve Simmons has done an unbelievable job with that team. They are kind of like us in the way that he took something out of nothing and really turned into something special. But it was great for us on senior day. Justin Pines made an unbelievable save on the free kick in the second half and North getting the goal on the other end. These games are so close and it comes down to making plays and we made two big ones: one to keep them from scoring and getting the score at the end. I'm really happy for our guys headed into the Big Ten Tournament."
The defensive stop mentioned by Lenahan was a beautiful one-handed saved by Pines with 19:40 left in the second half. NIU's free kick from the right side sailed over a wall of NU defenders, but not past Pines who leaped up to his left, knocking the ball wide with his left hand to turn away a sure goal.
This was the first start of the season for Pines (3-0) who made two saves on the day. He has allowed one goal this season in more than 200 minutes of action.
NIU goalkeeper Joe Zimka, the NCAA's leader in goal-against-average and save percentage coming into the game, took the loss and made three saves.
The Wildcats take their 11-6 overall mark into next week's Big Ten Tournament Nov. 2-5 in Columbus, Ohio. The conference office will announce the official seedings on Sunday.
The NCAA Championship bracket announcement will be made Monday, November 6, between 4 and 5 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPNEWS.