DEKALB, Ill. - Looking to keep pace with the top-half of the Missouri Valley Conference, the University of Evansville men's soccer team produced some magic with an 85th-minute winner to secure a 2-1 road victory at Northern Illinois on Saturday night in DeKalb, Ill.

"It was kind of a tale of two halves. I thought in the first half we did a really good job to establish possession and keep them pinned in and create chances," said Aces head soccer coach Robbe Tarver. "In the second half, I thought NIU came out really strong and they were pressing us and credit them for getting the equalizer. But the way that we responded was fantastic, generating two or three attacks and then the ball from Edward to Audun and the composure from Audun to square it and finish it was massive. Winning on the road is hard, so we're super pumped to have nine points."

For the second-straight game and third time on the season, redshirt freshman Jacopo Federizzi found the back of the net, doing so in the 23rd minute on a free kick just beyond the boundary of the 18-yard box. Federizzi was also a part of the Aces second goal of the evening, assisting Audun Engen Vik, along with Edward Mendy, to create what would prove to be the game winner for the Aces.

In goal, freshman Michal Mroz stood tall once again, making four saves and securing his seventh win between the posts this season, the most by an Aces freshman keeper since Frederik Reimer earned nine wins during the 2016 campaign for Evansville.

A slow start to the match in terms of attacking for either side would not be indicative of the majority of the contest as Evansville and NIU each failed to record a shot in the first 13 minutes of the opening stanza. The Aces were the first to go on the attack, generating opportunities from Jose Vivas, Nacho Diaz Barragan, and the aforementioned Federizzi inside the match's first 20 minutes. Earning a free kick from what would prove to be a dangerous position at the top of the 18-yard box, Evansville saw its breakthrough come off the foot of Federizzi, who curled the free kick into the near post and past the Huskies' keeper. Evansville limited NIU to just one shot in the first 45 minutes, while the Aces recorded four in the first half, taking a 1-0 advantage to the break.

The second half quickly took on a different look from the first as NIU came out the aggressor, putting four shots on frame and forcing Mroz to make a handful of saves inside the first 15 minutes of the second stanza. In all, NIU would tally nine shots in the second half with seven on target, including an equalizer in the 81st minute that Sam Divis spun past Mroz.

As mentioned by head coach Robbe Tarver, Evansville immediately respond to the Huskies' goal, getting the ball back on the attack and generating opportunities on goal, resulting in shots and corners. What would prove to be the breakthrough in the final six minutes was created by a run from Audun Engen Vik down the right side. The sophomore held up his run at the top right corner of the box and passed the ball off the Federizzi, who quickly turned and slipped the ball to Mendy, who was making a run down the left third of the box. Mendy dribbled within a few yards of the goal and slipped the ball back across the six-yard box, finding an awaiting Audun Engen Vik who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net, leading Evansville to the 2-1 road win.

The Aces are back home on Friday, October 25th as Evansville welcomes Bowling Green to Arad McCutchan Stadium for a 7 PM kickoff under the lights.