Northern Michigan University’s Luca Rosen, left, and Teun van Gansewinkel embrace during the Wildcats’ 1-0 win at Purdue Northwest on Friday. Both were involved in the only goal scored in the game. (Photo courtesy NMU)

HAMMOND, Ind. — The men’s soccer team at Northern Michigan University evened its conference record with a 1-0 victory at Purdue Northwest on Friday afternoon.

Not only did the Wildcats bring their record to 1-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, but improved to 2-1-3 overall while breaking a four-game losing streak at the Pride’s field in Hammond, Indiana.

The game’s only goal was scored by junior forward Luca Rosen, who finished off what NMU Sports Information termed a tic-tac-toe play from sophomore forward Teun van Gansewinkel and sophomore defender James Carr.

The result was also a positive referendum on NMU goalkeeper Asaf Kristal, who negated the Pride’s 20-7 shots advantage with saves on all three shots on goal by PNW. Northern also had three shots on goal.

“Extremely proud of the boys today,” Northern head coach Alex Fatovic said to NMU SI in his first win at Purdue NW. “There is no such thing as an easy road GLIAC game, and this game was no different.

“Massive team effort from everyone to get our first conference win under tough conditions, and now we turn our attention to a huge game against the defending champions on Sunday.”

That game was a late afternoon encounter in Chicago against Roosevelt, which again is on top of the conference at this early point with a 1-0-1 league record.

On Friday, Purdue NW held a 13-2 advantage in corner kicks, including 9-1 in the second half, while Northern committed more fouls, 21-10, as each team was shown a pair of yellow cards.

Rosen’s goal came before the midpoint of the first half in the 17th minute. The Wildcats were awarded a throw-in deep in Pride territory along the near sideline, according to NMU SI.

Carr’s throw-in went deep into the box, where it was corralled by van Gansewinkel, using his back to shield a defender near the right goal post. In one motion, van Gansewinkel settled the ball and played a quick pass out to Rosen, who took an immediate right-footed, low-driven strike that curled toward the far side, perfectly placed at the inside of the far post to beat Pride goalkeeper Mateus Baptista de Souza.

Rosen has goals in back-to-back games, the first Northern player to do that since Alessandro Scialanga scored in three straight games just about this time a year ago.

Van Gansewinkel’s assist brings him even with Rosen in team scoring with five points, each player with two goals and an assist.

Kristal’s shutout was his third in the Wildcats’ first six games, the fourth time in Fatovic’s four seasons NMU has accomplished three blankings in its first half-dozen contests.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the game. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.