DEKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois University (6-3-4) secured a 2-1 victory over Notre Dame (7-4-4) on Tuesday evening in a tightly contested non-conference matchup. The match featured dramatic momentum swings and two red cards in front of a spirited home crowd.
Nolan Spicer put Notre Dame ahead in the 13th minute, finishing a well-worked combination between Luke Burton and Wyatt Lewis. NIU equalized through Vance Sheffield in the 27th minute after Jose Gomez and Nico Angulo combined to create the opportunity. The Huskies completed their comeback when Martin Montoya found the net in the 64th minute, again assisted by Jose Gomez.
The first half saw Notre Dame control much of the possession, generating eight shot attempts. Wyatt Borso and Ian Shaul both tested the NIU defense with early efforts, while Katai Mukuka provided a dangerous counter-attacking threat for the Huskies. The visitors' pressure paid off with Spicer's opener, but Sheffield's equalizer shifted the momentum before halftime.
The second half's complexion changed dramatically in the 57th minute when NIU goalkeeper Atahan Arslan received a straight red card, forcing the Huskies to reorganize with backup Caleb Pearson. Despite being down to ten men, NIU showed remarkable resilience, with Montoya's winner coming against the run of play. Notre Dame's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow when Diego Ochoa was shown a straight red in the 87th minute.
Final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Notre Dame recording 17 shot attempts to NIU's 8. The Fighting Irish managed 4 shots on target, matched by NIU's 4. Both teams earned 6 corner kicks, while the goalkeepers were kept busy - Pearson making 3 saves for NIU after replacing Arslan.
Jose Gomez proved instrumental for NIU with two assists before his 81st-minute substitution. Will Schroeder showed his defensive mettle for Notre Dame but picked up a yellow card in the 84th minute. Wyatt Lewis created several dangerous opportunities for the visitors, including a shot off the woodwork in the 67th minute.
NIU's tactical approach shifted after Arslan's dismissal, with the Huskies adopting a more defensive stance while maintaining their threat on the counter. Notre Dame's numerical advantage led to increased possession but struggled to break down NIU's reorganized defense. The introduction of Martin von Thun late in the match nearly paid dividends for Notre Dame, but his 88th-minute effort missed the target.
The victory extends NIU's unbeaten streak to three matches, following draws against Western Michigan and Belmont. For Notre Dame, the defeat marks their second consecutive loss after falling to NC State in their previous outing, creating additional pressure as they enter a crucial stretch of conference play.
Both teams showed their competitive spirit in a match that featured 124 total plays and numerous momentum shifts. NIU's ability to secure victory despite playing over 30 minutes with ten men demonstrated remarkable resilience, while Notre Dame's inability to capitalize on their numerical advantage will provide learning opportunities for upcoming matches.
NIU looks to maintain their momentum when they travel to UIC for an October 25 evening clash, while Notre Dame aims to halt their losing streak at Boston College on October 24.