Luca Rosen scores tenth goal of the season, tying the single-season Wildcats’ record
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The NMU men’s soccer team earned a point on the road against the (RV) Roosevelt Lakers, as today’s match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Wildcats (4-2-2, 1-0-2 GLIAC) took a point off the GLIAC-leading Lakers (4-0-4, 2-0-2 GLIAC). In a battle of the titans, the teams finished the night as the top two teams in the early GLIAC conference table, and the number two and three seeds in the region according to the NPI ranking.
“Disappointed not to get the full 3 points after scoring in the second half and leading; however, extremely proud of their efforts. We played fantastic,” added head coach Alex Fatovic when speaking with nmuwildcats.com post-match. After the draw, the Lakers hold eight points and sit atop the conference, and the Wildcats move alone into second with five points.
“Another good result on the road against a top team in the region, and I really think our guys grew into the game… Even when they conceded, and there were still 20 minutes left, they didn’t sit and succumb to the pressure; we kept trying to find a winner, but also didn’t give anything away, so I was really pleased… Tremendous effort, great result against a fantastic team, and we’ll rest, recover, and get ready for another tough game on Sunday.”
The Wildcats broke the seal an hour into the match, as none other than Luca Rosen converted with a decisive header off a cross from Vinni DaSilva, who subbed into the match in the 34th minute. DaSilva dribbled a ball to the right side of the box and played a cross to the far post that found the head of a cutting Rosen, and the NMU all-time goal leader added to his tally.
When asked about the goal, head coach Fatovic said a header from Rosen is “not something that’s typically on my bingo card.”
“He was definitely marked tight. They game-planned for him; he couldn’t find a lot of freedom, but he found himself at the back post and scored a header on a tremendous play. He just keeps finding ways to score; he’s worked extremely hard, he was pressing very hard as well, and it was just another good performance from our captain.”
The Lakers were able to capitalize on a fortunate bounce and equalized just 10 minutes later. A cross into the box was initially headed away by Marcos Gallardo Rozano, but the wayward ball found its way onto the foot of Alexander Panduro, who took a touch and turned toward goal before hitting a right-footed strike that found the bottom left corner of the goal past the outstretched hand of Asaf Kristal.
The ‘Cats had an opportunity to retake the lead, as DaSilva corralled a ball just inside the box and had time to turn and take a hit. DaSilva beat the goalkeeper, but Strupler was saved by the crossbar, and the Lakers escaped unscathed from a dangerous Wildcat attack.
NMU got solid shifts from all of its starting 11, led by 90-minute performances from goalkeeper Kristal, the back line of Davian Gumbs, Noah Girard, James Carr, and Gallardo Rozano, and midfielder Julius Lemm. The ‘Cats defense held the Lakers to nine shots with just three on target, two of its lowest totals in both categories all season.
NMU is now undefeated in its last four matches, where the Green and Gold have outscored its opposition 11-4 in that frame.
“I think the defense was again fantastic today. I think we’ve really grown with our back line and our central defense in midfield. We conceded four goals in that first Saginaw game, and since then, we haven’t conceded more than one goal in any game. I think they’re really finding their footing… Marcos was huge, and Noah was massive: they handled everything in the air, they brought things down, and when the game got really tough at the end, and there was a lot of pressure, they didn’t break.”
Forwards Sergio Cano Castro (86) and Rosen (84) paced the way up front, while midfielders Xhoel Lutaj (83) and Sam Pilgrim (63) put in solid efforts. Noah Preston Watkins tallied 24 minutes before leaving with an injury. He was replaced by Ian Weimer, who turned in a solid 60-minute slate. DaSilva saw 42 minutes of action, while Tristan Lee was the only other substitute to see action, logging six minutes.
The score sheet was relatively balanced on the whole tonight. Roosevelt held a slight advantage in shots (8-9), shots on goal (2-3), and corners (2-4). Roosevelt was whistled for eight more fouls at 11-19, and NMU was flagged for all six offside calls in the match.
NMU now looks ahead to Sunday, when the Green and Gold take on the St. Cloud State Huskies, who drew 0-0 with Roosevelt in Chicago on Wednesday.
