GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A quick strike in the ninth minute was the difference Saturday as the IU Northwest men's soccer team dropped its season opener, 1-0, to Aquinas (Mich.) despite out-shooting the Saints 12-6 and holding a commanding 6-1 edge on corner kicks.
Aquinas forward Trae Collins broke the deadlock in the ninth minute, beating Redhawks goalkeeper Carter Levesque unassisted for what proved to be the game's only goal. It was the only real crack in an otherwise even, hard-fought battle between the two programs.
From there, IU Northwest pressed for an equalizer that never came. The Redhawks controlled long stretches of possession and territory, forcing Aquinas keeper Dario Cela into six saves, but couldn't find the finishing touch. Alan Nunez tested Cela twice, including a bid off a 30th-minute chance, while Cesar Lopez and Luis Limones combined to generate pressure from corner kicks throughout the second half. Damian Lopez and Josh Braun each had early looks turned aside by Cela inside the first five minutes, and Chase Jacobs Gries and Marcos Real answered for the Saints with header and blocked chances of their own.
Levesque was busy in net for the Redhawks, turning away four shots, including a stop on Evan Goodfellow just before the goal and a second-half save on a Maurice Chandler Jr. header.
The match was a physical one, with Aquinas whistled for 17 fouls to Indiana Northwest's eight.
Despite the loss, IU Northwest finished with the edge in shots (12-10) and shots on goal, a sign of things to come as the Redhawks look to bounce back in their home opener.
The Redhawks return home to open their home slate on Wednesday, Aug. 26, hosting Defiance College. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CDT.
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Indiana University Northwest
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