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HOME OF NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS ATHLETICS
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Nike
msoc-recap-midlandgpac-231101
0
Midland MID (4-9-5, 2-4-5 GPAC)
1
Winner Northwestern NWC (13-4-2, 8-1-2 GPAC)
Midland MID
(4-9-5, 2-4-5 GPAC)
0
Final
1
Northwestern NWC
(13-4-2, 8-1-2 GPAC)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Midland MID 0 0 0
Northwestern NWC 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | NWC Athletic Communications

Northwestern Advances in Tight Contest

Alessio nets game-winning goal

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – A defensive battle saw the No. 2-seeded Northwestern men's soccer team (13-4-2, 8-1-2 GPAC) advance in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) tournament, taking a 1-0 win over No. 7-seed Midland (4-9-5, 2-4-5 GPAC) in the quarterfinal round.
 
"Midland has been a solid defensive team all season," commented head coach Dan Swier. "We knew it was going to be difficult to score, and it was. We also knew our defense had the quality to keep a shutout if we could score just one."

The Red Raiders possessed the ball for a majority of the first half, taking four shots, including two in the sixth minute that barely missed. Marcel Lengert (Sr., Siegen, Germany) hit the post with his first attempt, while Riley Aarbo (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) had a header go just right after back-to-back Northwestern corner kicks.

After establishing their strategy in the opening 45, both teams ramped up the aggressiveness in the second half. It was a yellow card on Midland that set up Northwestern's prime scoring chance, as Marco Alessio (Sr., Chioggia, Italy) lined up alongside Stan van den Beld (Jr., Voorhout, Netherlands), taking the free kick that warped around the arms of the Warrior goalkeeper to break the scoreless tie.

"It was fitting that Marco, our captain, scored the winner," noted Swier. "He is the heart and soul of our team, and I couldn't be more proud of him."

In the waning minutes, Pablo Aspas (Sr., Valencia, Spain) came up with a clutch leaping save to book Northwestern's spot in the GPAC semifinals.

MATCH NOTES
  • Northwestern now has 11 shutouts this season, tying the program record set in 2021.
  • Marco Alessio scored his second goal of the season and his first-career game-winner.
  • The Raiders led 8-6 in corner kick attempts.
  • Pablo Aspas had four saves in goal.
Up Next: The Raiders will host No. 6-seeded Dordt on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. for a trip to the conference tournament championship match.
Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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