With a 5-1-1 start, things were looking good for the Northwestern men’s soccer season.
But this Sunday, bad luck came the Wildcats’ way with a season-ending injury to starter Will Nicholas.
The sophomore , who is fifth in scoring for NU, will be sidelined with a broken leg for the remainder of the season.
NU also lost a tournament for the first time this season at Evansville’s ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic in Evansville, Ind.
The Cats snapped their six-game unbeaten streak, picking up only the second loss of the season.
NU won a 5-4 offensive spectacle in overtime Friday against Oral Roberts but fell 2-1 in overtime to hosting Evansville Sunday. Sunday’s defeat was the Cats’ first overtime loss in three seasons.
The Cats finished third out of four teams in its fourth and final tournament of the season before the conference slate begins on Sunday.
“Obviously, our loss was a tough one,” coach Tim Lenahan said. “It was heartbreaking. We’ve gotten used to winning, we like winning.”
“But the big loss was Will. One of our best players, heart and soul of the team, is out for the year.”
Nicholas’ injury came at the end of the first half of Sunday’s game, following a rough tackle from Evansville’s Marc Burch.
This season, Nicholas was tied for second in NU goals and third in assists after finishing second on the team in points last season.
“Losing Will definitely hurts,” captain Brad Napper said. “He’s a work horse in the middle of the field for us, and he’s had a great start to the season.
“But we’re lucky enough to have some depth. They’re going to have to step up and fill that void.”
That depth showed Sunday, when five NU players netted a goal, and the team’s goal total was the highest they’ve had all season.
NU leading scorer Gerardo Alvarez kicked off scoring only 47 seconds into the game, but Oral Roberts answered back to grab a 2-1 lead. Kevin Earnest and Napper then each netted a goal to carry a 3-2 lead at halftime.
Oral Roberts answered with two goals before freshman David Roth tied the game for the Cats in the 71st minute.
Less than five minutes into the extra period, junior defender Jaro Pylypczak won the game with a corner kick.
“It was a wild and crazy game,”
