Nov. 8, 2007

EAST LANSING, Mich - No. 3 seed Northwestern used two David Roth goals to defeat No. 6 seed Wisconsin, 3-1, in the opening game of the 2007 Big Ten Men's Soccer Championship at Old College Field in East Lansing.

Northwestern opened the scoring in the second minute of the game, as Roth found the back of the net 62 seconds into the contest, when a ball was deflected back to him at the top of the box off a corner kick. Roth then was injured in the 4th minute as he was tackled by Wisconsin's Taylor Waspi, drawing a yellow card. Roth missed the rest of the first half, but returned in the second. The Badgers answered with a goal in the 32nd minute. Andy Miller sent a low shot from 18 yards out through several players into the lower left corner of the goal. The Northwestern keeper was screened and unable to react in time.

In the second half, Matt Eliason had a chance to give the Wildcats the lead in the 50th minute, but his shot bounced wide right. With 38:57 remaining, Roth scored his second goal of the contest, with assists from Mark Blades and Eliason. Wisconsin nearly tied the score in the 56th minute, but Victor Diaz's volley into an empty net went wide right.

The Wildcats added a third goal with 24:57 remaining in the contest. Pierro Bellizzi had a shot that was saved by the Wisconsin goalkeeper. The ball bounced directly to Blades, as he headed the ball just inside the left post.

Justin Pines made seven saves for Northwestern, while Alex Horwath made six stops for the Badgers. Wisconsin did hold a 17-16 advantage in shots, and a 10-4 advantage in corner kicks.