EVANSTON, Ill. - No. 17 Northwestern got second-half goals from Matt Eliason and Oliver Kupe as the Wildcats earned a 2-0 win over Indiana Sunday afternoon in men's soccer action at Lakeside Field. It is the first time in the Wildcats' 15 matches this season that a contest has been decided by more than one goal.

The matchup was a showdown of the top two teams in the Big Ten preseason poll as the Hooisers were picked to win the league while NU was tabbed to finish second. Following the win, Northwestern (9-2-4, 2-1-1) has itself in position to claim the conference crown with two matches remaining.

After Sunday's contest, the Wildcats and Penn State are the lone two teams with less than two losses as both squads are 2-1-1 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin sits at 3-2-0 with one match left.

Indiana (7-7-1, 2-2-0) held an 8-2 advantage in shots over the first half of play, but Northwestern had perhaps closest call. In the 35th minute of play, Mark Blades' service into the box following a corner kick was headed by Eliason and then flicked by Jack Hillgard. The ball got by IU keeper Luis Soffner, but clanged off the top of the crossbar.

The Wildcats would finally cash in at 62:12 and for the fifth time this season, it was Eliason who notched the game-winner. Hillgard fed the ball past a defender to the junior forward who deposited it past Soffner for his Big Ten-leading 12th goal of the season.

Eliason entered the week second in the nation in goals scored.

Northwestern was able to tack on an important insurance goal in the 79th minute. Eamon O'Neill played a cross from the left sideline to the center of the field and when Soffner misplayed the ball, Kupe found himself all alone for the easy score.

Misha Rosenthal made three saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season and the school-record 28th of his career. The team was also credited with one more stop as the 'Cats earned their first win over the Hoosiers in Evanston.

The victory was also No. 50 for Northwestern's senior class, tying last year's group for the most of any class in program history.

Northwestern returns to action at 1 p.m. Central time next Sunday when it travels to Michigan.