Recent history indicates that Northwestern men’s soccer frequently opens the season with success, relying on built-up energy and fresh legs.
That trend continues this year, as for the third straight season, the ’Cats (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) were victorious in their first two games. A 2-0 win against Eastern Illinois and a 2-1 victory over Air Force marks an impressive start to the year for NU, one that showcased the talent and tenacity of this year’s squad.
Northwestern 2, Eastern Illinois 0 (Aug. 23)
NU
met Eastern Illinois for the 16th time in history, but for their first game since 2019. The match was primarily a defensive battle, with both teams scoreless in the first half. The Wildcats continued pushing the offensive gas pedal and outshot the Panthers 10-2 in the first half, but they could not garner a goal against Eastern Illinois goalie Franco Barba. The closest opportunity came from junior forward Peter Riesz, whose shot hit the left goal post after passing by the goalkeeper.
The defensive slugfest continued in the the second half, but NU amped up the intensity. It completely shut down the Panthers’ offense, not allowing a single additional shot in the second frame and leaving their shots on goal completely blank for the entire game.
With the defense holding down the fort, the Wildcat’s offense finally broke through in the 67th minute. After a brief respite, Riesz entered the game and immediately sought revenge after his near-miss in the first half. A cross from graduate student midfielder Joe Suchecki found Riesz in the midfield, where he headed in the first goal of the game — and first of the season for NU.
Despite a 1-0 lead and continued lockdown play by his defense, Riesz still wasn’t satisfied. In the 81st minute, he once again found success in nearly the exact same way as his previous goal. A cross from freshman Aaron O’Reilly in right field found Riesz’s head, which pushed the ball into the net for his second goal of the game. This goal was historic for both players: In just his first game of the year, Riesz eclipsed his goal total from the whole season last year, while O’Reilly’s pass earned him his first career assist.
The defensive held firm until the end, as NU goalkeeper Rafael Ponce de León achieved his eighth career clean sheet. A 2-0 statement win from the ‘Cats to open the season.
Northwestern 2, Air Force 1 (Aug. 25)
While NU has played many games against the Panthers, it has zero familiarity with Air Force. Not only did this matchup mark the two teams’ first meeting together, but it also goes down in the archives as the ‘Cats’ first game against a service academy squad.
Sunday’s game was historic, and Northwestern ensured it was remembered on the winning side of it. The pattern was similar to the Eastern Illinois game, as for almost the entire first half, the ‘Cats significantly outshot their opponent but were unable to capitalize.
A 13-1 shooting advantage resulted in a 0-0 tie 40 minutes in. But in the blink of an eye, NU’s offense came through. Midfielder Joe Suchecki was open in the box as he inherited the ball through a link-up play from Alejandro Martinez Santamaria and Tre Barrett. He ensured the opportunity didn’t go to waste, netting his first goal of the season and providing NU a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room.
The 52nd minute brought another assist from Martinez Santamaria, as his cross found O’Reilly’s right foot for his first goal of his career, with the 2-0 lead giving much-needed insurance. This also gave Martinez Santamaria two assists, his first points as a Wildcat transfer.
NU’s defense remained stout until just minutes before the match completed, when Air Force’s Quinn Muderlak used a well-timed corner kick to punch in the team’s first goal and cut the deficit in half. However, it was all the team could muster, and NU left with a 2-1 victory.
Northwestern hopes to continue its undefeated streak with a matchup against Loyola Chicago on Friday night.
