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Gaschot’s late goal helps men’s soccer to tie Green Bay

September 15, 2014
Bertrand Gaschot

Bertrand Gaschot

Junior Bertrand Gaschot (Austin, Texas/Westwood) scored with 34 seconds remaining Sunday night to earn the NIU men’s soccer team a 2-2 draw against Green Bay at the NIU Soccer Complex.

Gaschot had a goal and an assist while senior Isaac Kannah (Plymouth, Minn./Prairie Seeds Academy) scored NIU’s first goal of the contest.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the resiliency,” said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. “We were not very good in the first half but we came out in the second half and I thought we were very good. We got the first goal back, then had a bit of bad luck on their second goal, that is uncharacteristic of us. But the resiliency and the belief that we could get the goal back was fantastic.

“I’m really happy for Bertrand. He is such a smart player. He just finds gaps, finds openings and sees things that not a lot of players see.”

NIU (2-2-2) fell behind in the 72nd minute and it looked like the Huskies would have to settle for defeat before Gaschot found the net in the final minute. Kannah made the play down the wing before an overlapping Richard Hall (Billericay, England/The Billericay School) sent the ball across in front of goal. The initial shot was turned away by Green Bay goalkeeper Dani Alvarado but the rebound fell to Gaschot at a tight angle and he smashed a shot high into the net past a helpless Alvarado to even the match.

With all of the momentum from the late goal, the Huskies dominated the extra session. NIU earned seven corners and had six shots in the additional 20 minutes, but was unable to find a game-winning goal.

Len Henison

Len Henison

Freshman Len Heinson (Wuppertal, Germany/Carl-Fuhlrott Gymnasium) had a chance in the 102nd minute but his mishit shot was deflected out for a corner. The best chance of extra time came in the 104th minute as sophomore Cody Witkowski (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) played an excellent ball across field to Kannah who turned a Phoenix defender before firing a shot off the post.

Alvardo finished with three saves for the Phoenix while NIU goalkeeper Andrew Glaeser (Walla Walla, Wash./Walla Walla/Oregon State) finished with two stops.

Green Bay (3-2-1) took the lead in the 26th minute on a goal by Audi Jepson. Lawrence Talery had the ball for the Phoenix near the top of the 18-yard box and flicked it into the path of Jepson near the penalty spot and he slipped it into the corner of the goal to give Green Bay the early lead.

After halftime, the Huskies pulled even in the 55th minute. Gaschot got forward down the right wing for NIU and played a terrific cross to the back post where Kannah was all alone. The Plymouth, Minn., native soared to meet the cross near the edge of the six-yard box, heading it back across goal, past a helpless Alvardo and into the net to even the contest.

NIU surged forward following the goal and nearly took the lead six minute later. Combination play from redshirt junior Shawn Vroom (Kohler, Wis./Kohler), sophomore Chris Paton (Glasgow, Scotland/Uddingston Grammar School), Kannah and Gaschot led to a chance for Gaschot that went just wide.

In the 72nd minute, Green Bay went back in front. After a NIU foul in front of the Green Bay bench, the Phoenix had a free kick 40 yards from goal. The attempted cross by Tyler Swanner caught Glaeser off his line and drifted into the net to give Green Bay a 2-1 advantage.

The Huskies committed extra numbers forward into the attack in the final 18 minutes and it finally paid off in the final minute on Gaschot’s tying goal.

NIU will return to action Saturday, Sept. 20, when the Huskies host Marquette to conclude a three-game homestand. Game time against the Golden Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m.

For more information on NIU men’s soccer and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.