MINNEAPOLIS | Giving up field goals instead touchdowns is a victory for any defense.

So when Minnesota failed to prolong three drives and instead had to settle for field goals, NIU’s defense knew it had done its job.

Three stands by the Huskies’ defense in NIU territory were essential in their 34-23 victory over the Golden Gophers Saturday night.

“We just got the job done today,” said sophomore middle linebacker Devon Butler.

Two of those stands came in a tight first half, as NIU went into the locker room with a 20-13 lead.

On Minnesota’s opening drive of the game, its offense appeared to be on its way toward the end zone, moving the ball with ease.

Yet the 13-play, 65-yard drive was halted as the Golden Gophers would fail to convert on third-and-12. Minnesota called on kicker Eric Ellestad, who put them on the scoreboard at 7-3.

The Huskie defense had a major pick-me-up after NIU tailback Jasmin Hopkins fumbled a kickoff return, giving Minnesota the ball at NIU’s 23-yard line.

NIU’s defense would prevent the Golden Gophers’ offense from gaining six points as the ensuing four-play, minus-one yard drive would conclude with a 42-yard Ellestad field goal.

Midway through the third quarter, NIU’s defense would prevail once again.

Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber would engineer a 10-play, 76-yard drive that lad to an 21-yard Ellestad field goal.

The kick cut the Huskies’ lead to 20-16.

“We had to kick field goals and that was disappointing,” said Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster.  “We also had a lot more opportunities on offense to score a lot more points. It was honestly just disappointing.”

In the beginning of the second quarter, Ellestad attempted a 42-yard field goal but the kick sailed wide right and NIU would again rake in the benefits.

“Our whole mentality is that we’re in control of what we’re in control of, with what we’ve been doing on offense, we need to get touchdowns,” Weber said. “Field goals are not cutting [it]. We have to do our jobs and get it in the end zone.”

Minnesota dominated in every offensive statistic except for rushing yards, which NIU literally ran away with.

The Golden Gophers prevailed in time of possession, milking 37 minutes on the offensive side, while also racking up 470 yards of total offense.

NIU’s offense was on the field for just 24 minutes.

In the end, Minnesota would be kicking itself for falling short of victory.