Sept. 14, 2007

Box Score

DeKALB, Ill. - The 10th-ranked Northwestern men's soccer team posted three second-half goals to propel it to a 3-0 victory over Butler at the NIU adidas/Baymont Inn Invitational Friday afternoon.

Matt Eliason, Geoff Fallon and Tyler Voigt each scored after the intermission to help the Wildcats improve to 4-0-1 on the season. Butler fell to 3-1-1 with the loss.

After each team managed just three shots apiece in the first half, the offense picked up after the break as Northwestern recorded 12 shots compared to eight for Butler.

"We were very fortunate to go into halftime tied 0-0," Wildcat head coach Tim Lenahan said. "Butler really brought it to us in the first 20 minutes or so."

Eliason was the first to find the back of the net for the Wildcats at the 48:53 mark, heading home a shot past Bulldog keeper Fabian Knopfler off a feed from Mark Blades. It was the team-leading third goal of the season for the NU freshman.

Fallon increased the Northwestern lead to 2-0 in the 66th minute after playing a cross from David Roth.

Voigt chipped in to put the game away 1 minute and 6 seconds later with his first goal of the season off assists from Piero Bellizzi and Misha Rosenthal.

"We needed somebody to make a play and it was great for Matt Eliason to get us started," Lenahan said. "Geoff Fallon and Tyler Voigt gave us some instant energy to put the game away.

"Scoring three goals and not giving up any is always a good thing."

Rosenthal earned his third shutout of the season in goal for NU, posting two saves in the winning effort.

The Wildcats will continue tournament play at noon Sunday when it takes on UMKC.