Nikola Ivetic free-kick goal lifts PNW over Northwood

The basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (2-0-0, 0-0-0), Northwood (0-2-0, 0-0-0)
• Location: Pepsi Field – Hammond, Ind.
• Attendance: 200

Inside the numbers

• Sophomore Nikola Ivetic (Crown Point, Ind./Indiana Connections Academy) scored the lone goal of the match, converting a free kick in the 65th minute.
• Purdue Northwest finished with nine shots, including three on goal.
• Northwood recorded two shots, with both attempts on target.
• The Lions earned two corner kicks, while Northwood collected five.
• Purdue Northwest's defense held Northwood scoreless for the second consecutive match to open the season.
• Freshman Estefano Alvear (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Unidad Educativa Monte Tabor Nazaret) played all 90 minutes in goal for PNW, making two saves to preserve the clean sheet.
• Northwood's goalkeeper, Jude Thomas, recorded two saves in the loss.
• Both teams were called for 14 fouls.
• The match featured 11 cautions, with six issued to Northwood and five to Purdue Northwest.

The breakdown

• Purdue Northwest and Northwood battled through a scoreless opening half, with the Lions holding a 3-1 advantage in shots.
• The Lions continued to pressure the Timberwolves after halftime, eventually earning a free kick in the 65th minute.
• Ivetic stepped up for the free kick and converted the opportunity at 64:15, giving Purdue Northwest a 1-0 advantage.
• Northwood looked to respond during the final 25 minutes, but the PNW defense remained composed and limited the Timberwolves to just one second-half shot on target.
• The Lions finished the match with a 9-2 advantage in shots and held Northwood off the scoreboard to secure their second straight shutout.
• With the victory, Purdue Northwest moves to 2-0-0 to begin the 2026 campaign and opens the home portion of its schedule with a win.

Up next

• Purdue Northwest returns to action on the road as they travel to take on Quincy on Wednesday, September 2 to continue nonconference play. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT in Quincy, Illinois.