Bahena’s Goal Gives PNW Men’s Soccer First Victory as NCAA D-II Member
Somers, Wis. – A goal off a header by freshman forward Matt Bahena (Blue Island, Ill./Eisenhower) in the 56th minute of play told the tale as the Purdue University Northwest men’s soccer team picked up a 1-0 win over University of Wisconsin-Parkside Sunday afternoon at Wood Road Field in Somers, Wis. It was the first victory (1-1-0 overall) of the young season for the Pride and the first for the program since moving to NCAA Division II status for 2017-18. Senior Miguel David (Spring Valley, Calif./Bonita Vista) earned the shutout for PNW behind four saves on the day.
Sophomore midfielder Jaime Garcia (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) provided the assist on Bahena’s game-winning goal. Both teams recorded nine shots and four shots on goal apiece. Miguel had a strong start stopping two shots on goal by the Rangers in the game’s first eight minutes. Over the game’s next 10 minutes, Purdue Northwest got shots on goal by freshman midfielder Isaiah Niaves (Lyons, Ill./Lyons Township) and junior forward Jonathan Harkin (Birmingham, England/College of St. Scholastica).
The two defenses tightened up the rest of the first half with no shots on goal the rest of the frame. Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Garcia found Bahena right in front of the net on a pass from the right side to notch the game’s only goal. Miguel and the rest of PNW defense took care of the remaining 35 minutes of regulation to help secure the 1-0 victory.
The Pride (1-1-0 overall) host Bethel College (Ind.) for their home opener on Saturday, September 9, at Dowling Park in Hammond. The game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start and will make up a portion of Purdue Northwest’s Fall Sports Festival, a free event at Dowling Park that will feature six of the PNW teams competing and family-friendly activities in the plaza.