ST. PAUL, Minn. – Farid Sani scored his first-career goal in the 60th minute of play, but the University of Northwestern (Minn.) edged the St. Olaf College men's soccer team, 2-1, with two first half goals in a non-conference contest Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Field.

Northwestern (1-1) got two goals from Grecia Burns Cadotte in the opening 22 minutes to get out to a 2-0 lead and maintained the two-goal advantage going into the half. Sani got St. Olaf (1-1) within one goal, scoring unassisted 15 minutes into the second half, but the Oles were unable to find a second goal.

Burns Cadotte's goals in the 14th and 22nd minutes opened up the 2-0 lead for the Eagles after a first half that saw both teams register seven shots.

In the second half, St. Olaf posted the first five shots of the half, which were in the first ten minutes of play, culminating with Sani's goal. After the break, the Eagles did not register a shot until the 84th minute. Prior to Sani's goal, Northwestern's John Boland cleared a Josh King-Nobles shot that was seemingly goal-bound out of danger just two minutes into the second half.

With just under two minutes to play, the Oles had opportunities to tie the game, as Folarin Bandele saw his shot saved by Aidan Lynch with a little over a minute to go. In the closing seconds, St. Olaf also had a corner kick but time ran out on the comeback bid.

St. Olaf out-shot the Eagles 14-9, in the game, including an 11-5 margin in shots on goal. The Oles got two shots on goal each from Thierno Gueye, Ian Lockhart and King-Nobles. Lynch made nine saves for the Eagles to earn the victory, while senior Ben Westermeyer suffered the loss with two saves.

St. Olaf continues play on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Luther in a non-conference contest at 7:30 p.m. in Decorah, Iowa.