St. Norbert Rallies to Tie at Northland International

From Sports Information Director, September 4, 2012 | Men's Soccer
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DUNBAR - St. Norbert College rallied late to post a 2-2 tie in a non-conference game with Northland International University at Pioneer Soccer Field.

The Green Knights (2-0-1) fell behind 2-0 to the perennial National Christian College Athletic Association power. The Pioneers (1-1-1) scored 1 minute 23 seconds into the game when James Kuhle found the net from the doorstep, and carried that edge into halftime. Northland International went ahead 2-0 on a solid strike by Josh Conover at 52:59.

St. Norbert responded at the 69:48 mark when Marc Popp played a ball out of the corner to Collin Gausselin at the top of the box. Gausselin then fed Nathan Angell on the left of the goal, and Angell buried the goal far post top shelf.

The Green Knights had a chance at an equalizer when Pioneers goaltender Travis Kirkland was issued a red card for hauling down a St. Norbert attacker loose on a breakaway in the penalty area at 78:17. Kuhle had to come on immediately in relief, and stopped a David Jacobson penalty kick to hold the lead.

St. Norbert knotted the score with 1:28 left in regulation time when the Green Knights were awarded a free ball in their own end. Goalkeeper Noah Davis boomed the service perfectly in front of the net, and Patrick Hehir flicked a header past Kuhle to even the score.

Both teams had chances to win the match in a pair of wild overtime periods played in near darkness. St. Norbert was turned away by Kuhle on two solid chances, while the Pioneers rung the post with a drive in the first overtime.

Northland International held a 17-14 shots advantage. Davis made six saves for St. Norbert.