Northern Michigan University's Alessandro Sialanga kicks the ball during the Wildcats' last game. (Photo courtesy of NMU)
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Northern Michigan University men's soccer team was tied with six and a half minutes remaining in the GLIAC opener this season between the teams on Saturday night in Minnesota, but St. Cloud State pulled away for a 2-1 victory.
This was NMU's first loss of the season, with the Wildcats now at 3-1-1 and St. Cloud at 3-2.
The Huskies struck first, with GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week Philip Caputo scoring his sixth goal of the season just over 10 minutes into the game.
According to a game report provided by NMU Sports Information, Caputo received a pass from teammate Andrew Holmes, split the Northern defense on the right wing and drove toward the goal. Caputo fired a low shot with his right foot, past the outstretched body of Northern goalkeeper Nils Cedergren and into the bottom left corner.
The Wildcats created multiple chances to tie the score late in the first half, earned three corner kicks and held the ball in St. Cloud's half for the majority of the first 20 minutes.
The Huskies earned their first corner kick with about 10 minutes left in the first half, but Cedergren and SCSU goalkeeper Ramy Attiah each made one save before halftime to deny the opportunity.
Three minutes before halftime, NMU couldn't tie the score after a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box saw a shot by the Wildcats' Alessandro Sialanga deflect off teammate Jan Hoffman but not into the goal.
Northern didn't slow down in the second half, earning several free kicks and getting some early chances, including a header from Davian Gumbs that hit Attia's chest about five minutes into the game, according to NMU SI.
Less than a minute later, Hoffman made a perfect swing pass across the field to switch passes to Siaranga, according to NMU SI.
Sialanga touched the ball once and then fired a powerful shot with his left foot into the bottom right corner, the sophomore defender's third goal in two games.
NMU looked to take the lead and in the 67th minute, Hoffman fired a shot at goal that was saved by the Huskies' keeper, Attia couldn't get to the ball and Northern's Teun van Gansewinkel found the rebound, but his shot was deflected off a defender, giving the Wildcats a corner kick.
St. Cloud held on until the 84th minute, when a free kick was sent into the NMU penalty box and the Huskies scored the winning goal. The ball deflected several times and fell to the feet of Matthew Greenland, who smashed the ball into the goal to beat Cedergren.
Sialanga improved to eight points this season with three goals and two assists, while Cedergren made five saves.
St. Cloud finished the game with a 13-7 advantage in total shots and 7-4 advantages in shots on goal, but NMU had a slight 5-4 advantage in corner kicks and the Huskies were awarded one more foul, making it 10-9.
NMU will return home after this short, one-game trip to host GLIAC rival Purdue Northwest on Friday at 3pm and Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday at 2pm at the NMU Football Field.
Information was compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His e-mail address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.
ALMA 44, NORTHERN MICHIGAN 27 —————————— Saturday at the Superior Dome…
