COLUMBUS, Ind. – Indiana University Northwest men's soccer took a trip to Columbus, Indiana Tuesday night for a showdown with fellow in-state program Indiana University Columbus.
 
The RedHawks, were in search of their first win of the season and wasted no time as freshman forward Cesar Lopez scored in the fifth minute. Lopez intercepted a pass in the Crimson Pride backfield and would bury a shot in the bottom left corner to put IUN ahead. 

IUN would finish the first half strong, not allowing a shot on net and maintaining the 1-0 lead.

The second half told a different story, as IUC came out with immediate pressure, changing the course of the match. Twelve of the Crimson Pride's fifteen shots came in the 2nd half which led to two late goals that would earn them the victory. 

In the 74th minute, sophomore defender Bryce Dolenc played a ground pass across the box to senior midfielder Angel Roque who took a touch and blasted it past RedHawk junior goalkeeper Tariq Singh. 

Minutes later, IUN turned the ball over in their defensive third, forcing Singh to leave the net and make a tackle just on the edge of the box. The challenge resulted in a red card, forcing the RedHawks to change goalkeepers. 

Coach Ben Kososkie's team played the rest of the match with 10 men. Junior goalkeeper Devun Collins checked in and finished the game in the net for IUN. 

IUC capitalized on having an extra man and continued to pressure the RedHawk defense with multiple shots. In the 86th minute, Dolenc once again played a ball across the box from the corner, this time finding senior forward Jon Michael Bright, who slotted it in the back of the net to give the Crimson Pride the lead. IUC held on to win 2-1.
 
The heartbreaking loss drops the RedHawks to 0-8 on the season. IUN will look to leave the non-conference schedule behind as they begin conference play at home in the Sparta Dome in Crown Point, Indiana. Their next match is against Saint Xavier University, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. CT. at the Sparta Dome.

Written by PJ Katona