The gray skies may have threatened showers early Friday, but the rain held off until the storm began on the field.
The No. 23 Northwestern men’s soccer team blasted four unanswered goals en route to a 4-1 win over Western Illinois (11-10) in both teams’ first-ever NCAA tournament appearances.
The Wildcats’ fifth win in six games advances them to the second round on Tuesday, where they will meet No. 16 Creighton (13-4-1) in Omaha, Neb.
NU is one of five Big Ten teams to play in the second round of the tournament. Michigan and Ohio State beat their first-round opponents, while Indiana and Penn State received byes and will begin play this week. Conference tournament champion Michigan State is out after falling to Tulsa.
NU (15-5-2) allowed its goal only 10 minutes into the match but answered three minutes later to start the scoring tempest.
