Even with a one-man advantage for the final 24 minutes of the game, the NIU men’s soccer team could not notch its first win of the season.

A 3-2 double-overtime loss on Sunday to Wright State (5-1-0), which followed Friday’s 3-0 loss to Loyola-Chicago (4-1-2), left the Huskies winless at 0-6-2.

With 4:05 remaining in the second overtime, the Raiders’ Chris Riley shot across the front of the net and scored in the back-left corner past NIU goalkeeper Matt Corcoran.

“Our problem is not as much physical as it is mental,” freshman Mike Corvo said. “We need to keep our heads in the game and stay focused for 90 minutes.”

The Huskies tied the game 1-1 before the half on Bruce Conrad’s first goal of the season.

Wright State pulled ahead 2-1, but a converted penalty kick by NIU senior Matt Stukenberg with 8:22 remaining sent the match into overtime.

“I told our guys they’re a good team and they didn’t listen,” Wright State coach Mike Tracy said. “We have to come out and play our style and we didn’t do that at all.”

Wright State came in averaging four-and-a-half goals over its four-game winning streak.

“We put forth a tremendous effort today, it just wasn’t enough,” NIU coach Steve Simmons said.

The Huskies will lose senior defensive captain Jason Sullivan for the next two weeks with a sprained lateral cruciate ligament in his right knee. Simmons said they aren’t in a hurry to rush him back, so he can be healthy for the end of the season.

NIU also may lose sophomore goalkeeper Steve Goletz for the remainder of the year. Goletz will see the doctor on Sept. 29 about his broken hand before he will decide if he will take a medical redshirt season.

On offense, Simmons put three forwards up front against Loyola, but the Ramblers took advantage of the Huskies having one less defender.

Loyola scored 2:38 into the match, and 3:15 into the second half before adding their final goal with 24:36 remaining.

“We payed three up front against IUPUI and scored three goals,” Simmons said. “It was the best way to give the guys a chance to build up some confidence.”