Another game, another time that Northwestern surrendered points it was supposed to claim.
The nightmare that haunted the ‘Cats against Loyola Chicago and UIC
earlier in the season resurfaced on Friday night in University Park, as Northwestern (6-4-3, 1-3-2 Big Ten) conceded a Penn State (5-5-3, 1-3-2 Big Ten) equalizer in the final minute to settle for a 2-2 draw — moments after taking a late lead in the 86th minute.Northwestern opened the game with poise, controlling early possession but struggling
to create clear chances in the final third. At the seventh minute, Alejandro Martinez Santamaria’s slick dribble down the left flank set up Joe Suchecki inside the box, but the junior’s shallow shot failed to trouble Penn State goalkeeper Jonathan Evans.
The Nittany Lions nearly punished Northwestern’s first defensive lapse three minutes later. Caden Grabfelder broke down the right side and unleashed a low drive that drifted just wide of the far post. Then, in the 14th minute, a careless turnover from Andrew Johnson handed Penn State’s Christian Dionne a counterattacking chance, forcing the ‘Cats’ keeper Rafael Ponce de Leon into his first save of the night.
NU responded with a fluid build-up play down the left wing at the 19-minute mark, connecting several passes before Martinez Santamaria swung in another cross that Jason Gajadhar couldn’t convert. The half closed with few true threats until the 43rd, when a Penn State corner found its way into a crowded box. Ponce de Leon stretched to parry the ball clear and keep the match scoreless at halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, the ‘Cats immediately looked sharper in the attacking third. At 47’, Paul Riesz floated a long cross to Martinez Santamaria at the far post, who then set up Suchecki for a close-range shot that rolled narrowly wide.
The pressure continued to build through the beginning of the second half, with Martinez Santamaria leading a series of attacks. In the 55th minute, Riesz’s ball recovery in the midfield sparked a counter, freeing Martinez Santamaria for a curling shot that Evans punched away. Three minutes later, the senior winger found himself in nearly the same spot, firing again from the left side — and again, Evans denied him.
The ‘Cats’ breakthrough finally arrived in the 62nd minute off a well-worked corner. Suchecki’s delivery dropped inside the penalty area, where Bryant Mayer rose to flick a header toward the middle. Baraka Tarleton stretched out in front of a defender and tapped the ball into the right side of the net to give NU the first lead.
Penn State pressed forward with urgency, but Ponce de Leon stood tall, producing a diving save on Dionne’s shot from a tight angle. Yet the ‘Cats’ resistance broke with 20 minutes left, when Ben Madore capitalized on a deflected ball that bounced off the left crossbar, drawing the Nittany Lions level.
Northwestern nearly reclaimed the lead minutes later as Suchecki whipped a low cross through the box at 72’, but Martinez Santamaria arrived a step late to connect.
Despite Penn State’s growing possession, Northwestern appeared to seize control again in the closing moments. In the 86th minute, Jayvin Van Deventer — making his second start since early September — found space near midfield, drove forward through traffic, and unleashed a long-range strike that curled inside the right post for a stunning 2–1 lead.
For a brief moment, it seemed the ‘Cats had finally exorcised their late-game demons. Ponce de Leon made another key save against Ben Liscum to preserve the advantage, and Penn State’s next header sailed high.
But heartbreak struck once more. In the dying seconds, Malick Daouda pounced on a loose ball in the box and slotted home the equalizer, denying Northwestern’s long-sought road win.
Instead of celebration, the ‘Cats left the pitch with frustration — the third time they swallowed an equalizer or game-winner in the last 10 minutes.
Northwestern will travel to Ann Arbor to face No. 16 Michigan on Oct. 24.
