The top-seeded Dominican University men's soccer team came up on the short end of a 1-0 match with the MSOE Raiders in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Tournament championship match.  Justin Johnson's goal in the 79^th minute was the lone tally of the game and the first of the season for the sophomore defender.

"It was a tight game today," said Erick Baumann, the Stars' head coach in his 20th season.  "We had some good chances in the first half and weren't able to capitalize.  We also hit two crossbars and couldn't catch a break."
 
Dominican had some early chances including a free kick in the 16^th minute by senior Ryan Ybarra (Des Plaines, Ill.) that banged off the crossbar.  Minutes later, Ybarra got loose again, this time placing a shot that whistled just outside the near post.
 
MSOE's best chance in the opening 45 minutes came in the final seconds of the half when Marius Prestin bent a shot that broke just outside the far post.
 
In total, Dominican outshot the Raiders 5-4 in the opening half.
 
The game appeared ticketed for overtime as neither team was able to score in the first 30 minutes of the second half but in the 78^th minute a flurry of activity in the Dominican 18-yard box and some miscommunication amongst the Dominican backline led to a Raiders' corner kick.  Braden Andryk's service then found Johnson's head at the near post and Johnson drove a header that snapped into the back of the Dominican goal.
 
Dominican tried to net the equalizer and even rattled the crossbar again as David Ortega (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) flicked a header that caromed off the frame in the 86^th minute but the Stars came up short, getting shutout for just the second time all season.
 
For the match, the Raiders outshot the Stars by the smallest of margins 9-8 with the Raiders placing one shot on goal while the Stars were unable to put a shot on goal.

"This is a tough loss to swallow after winning eight straight conference tournament championships," said Baumann, "but credit to MSOE for winning our automatic qualifier.  I wish them luck in the tournament."
 
With the loss, Dominican falls to 14-5-2 and leaves its fate in the hands of the national committee as the Stars hold out hope for one of the 18 Pool C bids from across the country.