Northern Illinois
First-Half Trio of Goals Carries Cal Poly to 4-1 Win in Home Opener
9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Cal Poly men's soccer team scored three times in the first 25 minutes during its home opener Friday night, and the Mustangs added a final goal late for a 4-1 win over Northern Illinois in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
"It was a very complete team performance," Mustang head coach Phil Ruskin said. "We took advantage of some of their miscues, and certainly being able to finish four times is always great."
Cal Poly came into the weekend leading the Big West Conference in scoring. Now, six different players have accounted for a 10-goal output through three matches.
"Everyone throughout the front line and the midfield is chipping in," Ruskin added. "The opportunity to get goals from multiple players puts us in position to be successful later on."
The initial strike came in the 10th minute when Kip Colvey (pictured at right) slid a long pass ahead to Justin Dhillon, who tapped a left-footed shot inside the right post.
Then in the 24th minute, Colvey recorded his second assist from the right side, this time setting up Kaba Alkebulan for a header.
In the very next minute, Chase Minter crossed in from the left side to Steve Palacios, who put away the insurance goal with a shot from about the center of the 18-yard box.
Isaac Kannah prevented the shutout for NIU, unassisted, four minutes before intermission, making an impressive move to his right for a shot from the top of the penalty area.
The opening half also wasn't without a spectacular save from Wade Hamilton, who made a diving grab of a 15th-minute shot from nearly point-blank range by Kannah.
With less than a minute remaining, Joseph Bolous tacked on the final score (the first of his career), taking a short pass to the left from Alkebulan before sending a shot past the diving keeper from about 15 yards out.
Overall, the Mustangs outshot the Huskies 21-10, and earned seven corner kicks while not putting themselves in position to have to defend any.
Cal Poly will continue its home stand by hosting Massachusetts at noon Sunday.
