VALPARAISO, IND. Statistics don’t tell the real story of the battle that the NIU soccer team fought here on Wednesday.

Wretched field conditions coupled with a brisk wind and a referee with a propensity for calling offsides almost doomed the Huskies.

Give the 4-10 Valparaiso team a little bit of credit, but limit the generosity. NIU had to overcome many more obstacles than just the Valparaiso defense to squeak this one out, 3-2.

The first example shows up on the scoreboard. Actually, it didn’t show up. With Valparaiso up 1-0 in the first half, the Huskies bidded to knot the contest. At the 25:40 mark, forward John Lechner clearly booted the ball past the Crusader goalkeeper, but apparently the referee’s judgment was impaired because the ‘keeper swiped the ball out of the net and continued play.

“The ball was definitely in,” NIU’s Willy Roy Jr. said. “It cleared the line by about six inches.”

NIU controlled just about the entire second half on the offensive side of the field, despite the Crusaders’ helping hand.

Tim Scarnato finally put NIU on the board early on in the second half. The Huskies should have cruised from there, especially when Valparaiso was to face a short-handed disadvantage.

Crusader forward, No. 21, was issued his first yellow card of the game at the 55:00 mark. Eight minutes later, the referee issued a second yellow card to No. 21. Two yellow cards equal a red card and expulsion from the match.

Not in Valparaiso.

When signaled to the sidelines by NIU’s coach Willy Roy, the referee said the yellow was the first of the game for No. 21. Then noted that No. 22 received the first yellow card.

After the game, No. 21, Brian Thiel confirmed the fact that he should’ve been ejected.

“They were both mine actually,” Thiel said. “But, the referee said the first one was No. 22’s, so I didn’t get kicked out.”

“I’ve played poker in my time,” Roy Sr. said. “But I’ve never seen a double-yellow card trick like that.”

Fortunately for NIU, Roy Jr.‘s second goal definitely counted, despite some uncertainty because the senior’s 30-yard blast went right through the back of the net.

“I saw the ball bouncing on the track,” NIU goalkeeper Markus Roy said. “So, I didn’t know what to think.”

One thing is for sure…”We were fortunate to come out of here with a win,” a relieved Roy Sr. said.