Northwestern featured a balanced attack on Wednesday night as the defeated Briar Cliff 4-0, to improve to 8-5 overall and 5-2 in GPAC play. Four different Raiders scored goals and two Raiders assisted on goals. Northwestern scored first, in the 10th minute, when a Steven Grand pass was put into the net by Aaron O'Brien. O'Brien's goal was his team best ninth goal of the season, Grand's assist gave him four for the season. Grand would not be done this evening, however.
Northwestern came out of the lockerroom at half with a lot of energy, scoring two goals in the first five minutes of the second half. Grand scored the second goal for the Raiders 30 seconds into the half, his first goal of the season. Shortly after Grand's goal, Andy Janssen beat the keeper, giving Northwestern a 3-0 cushion. Neither team scored until the 87th minute when junior Kyle Heynen netted an O'Brien pass for the fourth goal of the game. O'Brien picked up his first assist of the season and Heynen collected his second goal of the campaign.
Freshman keeper Ben Schneider picked up his third shut out in six starts, making nine saves. Schneider kept Briar Cliff out of the net in the first half by making some very athletic saves and getting great defense in front of him by Bryant Wieking, Tyler Sytsma, Brian Springer, and Caleb Tilstra.
Northwestern will face Dana next on the 13th of October at the soccer complex for a 3:00 p.m. match.
2007 media guide
