By: Stephen Wagner

DEKALB, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Opening the season on the road this evening, the Green Bay men's soccer team traveled to DeKalb, Ill., for a matchup with Northern Illinois at the NIU Soccer Complex. The match started off slow, as expected in the season opener, with both teams feeling each other out in the early goings. It took all of regulation and a pair of overtime periods for first goal of the match to be scored, as NIU's (1-0-0) Richard Hall netted one in the 106th minute to defeat Green Bay in double overtime.

Green Bay (0-1-0) saw eight new players make their debut in a Phoenix jersey this evening, five of which graced Green Bay's starting 11. The newcomers combined for two of the five Phoenix shots, including the lone shot of the night on goal turned in by Jordan Thorpe (Trelawny, Jamaica) in the fourth minute of the game.

The Green Bay defense held strong for the majority of the game, as NIU fired 20 shots at the Green Bay goalkeeper Kyle Ihn (Wales, Wis.), eight of which were on target. Ihn and the Green Bay backline played a quality match even with the NIU goal in double overtime, as Ihn collected seven saves and Green Bay defended six corners.

It will be a quick turnaround for the men's squad before returning to action, as the team heads for Green Bay and the friendly confines of Aldo Santaga Stadium to play host to Drake on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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