Despite a lackluster performance, the NIU men’s soccer team escaped Madison with a win while snapping its scoreless streak, which reached over two games.

Even with the less than impressive showing, the Huskies grabbed a huge 2-1 overtime win over the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wednesday night before an even bigger weekend match-up with No. 1 Akron.

“As an overall performance, we came out with a lack of energy, and it wasn’t an NIU-like performance, but a result is a result, so we’re going to be pretty happy with every three points,” said junior defender Tim King.

NIU (5-3-2) has now defeated the Badgers in five out of the past seven years and has won five out of its past seven games.

Wisconsin (1-7-2) continues its season tumble and has now remained winless in nine games after winning its first match.

The Huskies, along with their opponents, played miserably in the opening half and NIU head coach Eric Luzzi was lost for words.

“For someone who wasn’t there, I can’t even describe what the first half looked like today because both teams were so lethargic and so not into the game,” Luzzi said. “It was so strange.”

The second half was a slightly different story for both squads and senior striker Juan Hoyos started off the scoring in the 48th minute with junior striker Johnny Tyma and junior midfielder Brad Horton assisting on the play. Tyma aided in the opening score, in spite of the broken nose he received in the first 15 minutes via the Badgers’ keeper.

In the 80th minute, Badgers’ freshman midfielder Nick Janus put one off the post, but redshirt sophomore Danny Ahlering was there for the putback and the equalizer. NIU’s unsuccessful attempts at clearing the ball gave Wisconsin multiple opportunities at goal.

Just four minutes into the first overtime, freshman defender Sean Totsch sent a 45-yard free kick into the box where it met King’s head and found itself in the back of the net for the Huskies’ fifth win.

King’s game winner was a vital goal for the Huskies, but the days leading up to Saturday’s match will be even bigger.

“A win against a Big Ten opponent going into Akron is a stepping stone, but these next two practices are going to be big for us; trying to get our energy and our focus back so we can really take it to Akron,” King said.