NIU and DePaul’s men’s soccer teams were so evenly matched Sunday that it took 97 minutes and 43 seconds to score the game-winning goal.

However, unlike Wednesday, NIU was not able to pull out an overtime victory as Luke Rojo scored the decisive game-winning goal for the Blue Demons

Coach Willy Roy and the rest of the team were not very content with their performance.

“I don’t know why we’re so afraid,” Roy said. “As a 1-5 team we should be going out and giving it our best shot.”

Brendon Parrish and Bernhard Hagevik had chances to charge the net, but the Huskies were held back by 12 offside penalties compared to the two that were whistled on DePaul.

NIU and DePaul are teams that like to hold the ball and position their players before attacking the goal. However, especially in the second half, the Huskies and Blue Demons charged up and down the field relentlessly.

With one minute left, NIU had a corner kick from the left side of the field. The ball gracefully dropped in front of the net, but sailed over the cross bar after a Huskie tried to head it into the goal.

Going into overtime, it was a familiar situation for the Huskies, who have taken half of their opponents into extra periods this season.

Hagevik stole the ball in DePaul territory at the 6:10 mark that would have given him a breakaway. The official thought otherwise and called Hagevik for tripping.

NIU had another chance to score while maneuvering down the field, but Jon Davit kicked the ball right into the goalie’s chest. It was all Rojo from there.

DePaul’s Tim Blake passed to Rojo, who weaved through the Huskie defense and scored his third goal in two games for the win.

“In the last 10 to 15 minutes we have to want it,” captain Nick Park said. “We need to show more heart and desire if we’re going to win.”