Box Score
DeKALB, Ill. --- The 20th-ranked Northern Illinois Huskies scored twice before the half and two more times after to post a 4-0 win over the Portland Pilots at the NIU Soccer Complex on Sunday. The loss gives the Pilots a split at the NIU Invitational after a 2-1 win over Northwestern on Friday.
The Huskies, who remain perfect on the season at 5-0-0, scored their first two goals during the game’s first 30 minutes, both coming from Karim Darbaki. Darbaki finished on a header in the sixth minute, and he connected on the second goal in the 28th minute to hand Northern Illinois the 2-nil advantage.
The Pilots (2-2-1) tried to cut into the lead early in the second half as Michael Escobar forced NIU keeper Jordan Godsey to make a tough save in the 56th minute. Ryan Kawulok then took a crack on the rebound, but his shot was blocked.
NIU then added a little insurance with a goal by Paul Hogan in the 66th minute and another courtesy Houston Hoffman with only two minutes to play.
The Huskies and Pilots were just about even in shots all game long, with NIU finishing with a slight 13-10 overall advantage. Eight shots were on-goal for the Huskies, however, while UP had just one. Portland did hold an edge in corner kicks, attempting nine to NIU’s four.
Godsey made just the one save, while Portland goalkeeper Justin Baarts had four.
Portland has a week off before traveling to Seattle, Wash., for three non-conference games next week. First on Wednesday night, Sept. 21, the Pilots are set to play the Washington Huskies at Husky Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. Then the Pilots will take part in the 2011 Husky Fever Classic during the following weekend, when they’ll play Houston Baptist on Friday (Sept. 23) and Alabama Birmingham on Sunday (Sept. 25).
