Charles Apostolik (So.-New Castle, Colo.) scored the game-winning goal for the second straight match and the Lakeland University men's soccer team knocked off the two-time defending Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament champions, defeating Milwaukee School of Engineering 3-2 Wednesday afternoon.

The Muskies earned one of their more exciting wins in recent years, holding the explosive Raiders scoreless the entire second half and getting the go-ahead goal late. Lakeland topped MSOE for the first time since 2007 and won for the third time in its last four matches this year.

At 3-5 in the NACC, the Muskies also are suddenly in control of their own destiny to grab a spot in the six-team conference tournament. Lakeland would clinch a spot if it can defeat Aurora (Ill.) University and Concordia University Wisconsin on the road in its last two regular season matches.

The Muskies (5-11 overall) were opportunistic attacking, contested consistently every inch of the field and got a standout performance by goalkeeper Thomis Mannebach (Jr.-Florence, Wis.), who made 13 saves, many of the spectacular variety from point-blank range. Lakeland also did a terrific job on MSOE striker Braden Andryk, keeping one of the country's top scorers in check with a terrific team effort.

Andryk came into the match in the top five in NCAA Division III in goals and points, but the Muskies regularly swarmed him in the offensive end and mostly kept him from getting to close to the goal. Andryk finished with 10 shot attempts but most were from distance, and he scored only a single rebound goal when he cleaned up a third shot after Mannebach had stopped a pair of shots from inside the box.

Lakeland responded to an early MSOE (10-7 overall, 5-3 NACC) goal in the 12th minute by scoring just 25 seconds later. Apostolik got by a defender on the left wing and fired in front of the net, with Dustin Garbe (Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) redirecting just enough for Brian Herrmann (Jr.-Hortonville, Wis.) to blast it past goalkeeper Jeff Clements to tie the match.

The Muskies took the lead at 28:52, as Renan Asato (Sr.-Sao Paolo, Brazil) served in a corner kick from the right that Herrmann headed in for his third goal of the season. The Raiders answered back before the end of the half, though, as Andryk scored in the 40th minute to tie it again at 2-2.

MSOE blitzed the goal late in the first half but Lakeland survived to remain even at the half. The Muskies also spent a good portion of the second half on defense but kept the Raiders at bay as Mannebach stopped seven shots in the final 45 minutes alone and the visitors seldom had a good look in the middle of the field as defenders Garrett Jahnke (Jr.-Howards Grove, Wis.), Zac Kline (Sr.-Luxemburg, Wis.), Dylan Lange (So.-Geneva, Ill.) and Josh Mann (Jr.-Washington Island, Wis.) held firm.

Lakeland's opportunities were relatively few in the second half, but it proved to make good use of its offensive chances. Indeed, the Muskies found an opening in the 73rd minute and took advantage. Garbe fired a shot from the middle that Clements deflected, but the ball went right to Apostolik on the left side and he put it in for a 3-2 lead.

The final 17 minutes were on the edge of the seat for Lakeland, and the Raiders had another prime opportunity in the 82nd minute. Mannebach knocked away a header by Mikey Perez, though, and the Muskies cleared the ensuing corner kick and allowed just two more shots the rest of the way.

MSOE finished with a 30-11 shot advantage and a 13-2 lead in corner kicks. Apostolik led the Muskies offensively with four shot attempts, Herrmann added three and both Asato and Garbe took two shots each. Asato, Bonny Figueroa (Fr.-El Cajon, Calif.) and Josh Hogan (So.-Urbana, Ill.) did dirty work in the midfield, and Tyler Norris (Fr.-Roscoe, Ill.) and John Bentler (Fr.-Seattle, Wash.) also provided help off the bench.

Lakeland next faces Aurora on the road Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Muskies close their regular season next Wednesday when they travel to take on Concordia Wisconsin.