Purdue Northwest Defeated Northern Michigan
The Pride secured a 1-0 win at Pepsi Field behind a second-half goal from Ricardo Cruz.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Soccer
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Purdue Northwest defeated Northern Michigan 1-0 in a men's soccer match at Pepsi Field. Ricardo Cruz scored the game-winning goal in the 63rd minute.
Why it matters
The victory provides Purdue Northwest with momentum in the GLIAC standings. The team maintained defensive pressure to secure the win against their opponents.
Purdue Northwest took 11 shots with six on goal, while Northern Michigan managed seven shots and five on goal. Both teams finished the contest with four corner kicks each.
The players
Ricardo Cruz
He is a player for the Purdue Northwest men's soccer team who scored the decisive goal in the match.
Estefano Alvear
He serves as the goalkeeper for Purdue Northwest and played the full duration of the match.
Landon Potts
He is a member of the Purdue Northwest soccer program who provided an assist on the winning goal.
Aloe Berassa
He is a player for Purdue Northwest who contributed an assist during the second half of the match.
Purdue Northwest
This is a university athletic department located in Hammond that competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The details
Ricardo Cruz netted the winning goal in the 63rd minute off assists from Landon Potts and Aloe Berassa. Goalkeeper Estefano Alvear played all 90 minutes and recorded five saves to maintain the clean sheet.
Timeline
The match took place on October 11, 2026.
Purdue Northwest will play Davenport on October 16, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This victory improves the team's standing within the 2026 GLIAC men's soccer regular season hierarchy. The result serves as a critical outcome in the ongoing race for conference tournament positioning.
This victory improves Purdue Northwest's points total in the conference standings. The win marks a significant result against a Northern Michigan squad currently holding a national ranking of 21.
The takeaway
Purdue Northwest successfully utilized aggressive offensive play to overcome a highly ranked opponent. Maintaining defensive consistency through the final minutes allowed the team to protect their lead.
What happens next
Purdue Northwest is scheduled to play Davenport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 16, 2026.
Further reading
For additional updates on the team, check out the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nwitimes.
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