IU Indy men’s soccer falls to Northern Illinois University in home opener

On the evening of Sept. 9, the Jags opened their home season under the ideal weather conditions for soccer. The sun shone down on the pitch while a gentle breeze swept across the field. Though the team lost 2-1 in a hard-fought match, chatter and laughter could be heard from the stands as fans enjoyed both the competitive game and the beautiful evening.

IU Indy entered this match on a two-game winning streak after defeating Butler 1-0 and Southern Indiana 3-2 on the road. With contributions from multiple players in their victories over Butler and Southern Indiana—including goals from midfielder Youri Keijser, defender Stan Klaver, and forward Nathaniel Isom—the Jags were eager to take home another win.

The Jags were off to a rough start as they went down by one in the sixth minute of the first half with a goal from Northern Illinois University from the top of the box. It would not be until minute 35, when the Jags would tie the game with a goal from junior Jose Antonio Herrera. Following a cross from a midfielder, Herrera redirected the ball from the goal line, putting the ball in the back of the net leaving the NIU goalkeeper with no chance to save it.

unnamed (5).jpg — Citlali Sanchez

Crowd cheering when the Jags scored.

“It felt great to score my first goal of the season, especially in such an important game. Tying the match was a huge moment for us,” Herrera said. “It really motivated me and the whole team to keep pushing for that second goal.”

The tie was short-lived, as three minutes later NIU would retake the lead with a goal coming off a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Just before halftime, Jags forward, Nathaniel Isom, hit a shot that ricocheted off the bar, in what would have been a spectacular goal.

“After NIU scored their second, the talk on the field was all about staying focused and not getting discouraged. We knew we still had a lot of time left to play,” Herrera said. “During halftime, the coaches reinforced that message. We talked about what we needed to adjust tactically, but more than anything, the message was about believing in ourselves and supporting each other to get the win.”

Although the second half saw no goals, the intensity could be felt as the Jags battled for the tie and NIU fought to keep their lead. The tension was evident everywhere: from the coaches shouting instructions from the sidelines, to the players constantly communicating on the field, to the fans who leaned forward with anticipation only to throw their heads back when shots narrowly missed. Given how physical the match had become, the protests from coaches, players and fans whenever fouls were called came as no surprise. The Jags kept fighting for that second goal, but unfortunately ran out of time as the final whistle blew.

“We have to be more purposeful with our possession and not skip on opportunities to go forward or take shots.” Van Drunen said.

The team’s record is now 4-2-2 and will host Milwaukee on Sept. 20 at 5 p.m.

Citlali Sanchez is a senior majoring in sports journalism with a minor in sports marketing. She enjoys going out for boba, shopping (even if she does not buy anything) and watching anime. She can be found volunteering at sporting events in town or out at coffee shops.

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