As we quickly approach mid-October, six Huskie teams look to have a successful week of competition. Men’s soccer kicks the week off Wednesday as they host Northwestern under the lights. Women’s soccer travels to Buffalo for a Thursday evening match with the Bulls. Friday, cross country looks to have a strong showing at the Bradley Pink Classic while volleyball hosts Ball State Friday and Saturday. Football travels to Eastern Michigan Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. bout with the Eagles. Finally, on Sunday, men’s golf has its second to last competition of the fall at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational and women’s soccer hosts Kent State at 1 p.m.
Football
Saturday, Oct. 15: at Eastern Michigan, 2:30 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Audio | Live Stats
The NIU football team is on the road this Saturday, taking on the Eastern Michigan Eagles at 2:30 PM CT on ESPN+. The Huskies scored a season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter last Saturday against Toledo, but it was not enough to overcome first half miscues in a 52-32 loss. Quarterback Ethan Hampton completed a career-high 30 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Running Back Harrison Waylee caught a career-high 10 passes for 96 yards. Antario Brown rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown. NIU won last season’s meeting against the Eagles 27-20 at Huskie Stadium. A full preview of Saturday’s game will be available on NIUHuskies.com later in the week.
Volleyball
Friday, Oct. 14: vs. Ball State, 6 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
Saturday, Oct. 15: vs. Ball State, 2 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
After winning 10 of its past 11 matchups, league leading NIU hosts Ball State Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (2 p.m.) at Victor E. Court. The Cardinals (12-6,4-2 MAC) enter the Convocation Center fresh off a pair of wins over Akron and Buffalo. The Huskies are coming off two massive wins this past weekend which propelled the team atop the MAC standings. NIU beat Bowling Green in four sets on Friday and swept Miami (OH) on Saturday. Middle blocker Charli Atiemo (15 blocks, 2.14/set) and setter Ella Mihacevich (82 assists, 11.71/set) were named to the Week Seven MAC Players of the Week list after the team picked up the two wins.
Men’s Golf
Sunday-Monday, Oct. 16-17: at Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational – Live Scoring
NIU Men’s Golf is back in action Oct. 16-17 at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Michigan State at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, Fla. The Huskies are coming off a ninth-place finish at the Marquette Intercollegiate where graduate student Tommy Dunsire led the Huskies with a top-10 individual finish. Dunsire tied for eighth with a three-over par score of 213, highlighted by an opening round 69 that was his second-lowest round of the season. He was named MAC Men’s Golfer of the Week for the third time in his career and is the second Huskie to earn the honor this season. Sophomore Ben Sluzas was Golfer of the Week after NIU’s season-opening tournament at Wisconsin.
Men’s Soccer
Wednesday, Sept. 12: vs. Northwestern, 7 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
Monday, Sept. 17: vs. Chicago State, 7 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
The NIU men’s soccer team began a five-game homestand this past Sunday with a 0-0 draw against Western Michigan. Martin Sanchez made six saves as the Huskies snapped WMU’s nine-match win streak, which had been the longest active streak in the nation. NIU continues its homestand on Wednesday night when the Huskies welcome Northwestern to DeKalb, it will be the first meeting between the two programs since 2014. Chicago State will visit DeKalb next Monday in a rematch of a 3-1 victory for NIU on Oct. 6. Diego Maynez, Enrique Banuelos and Miguel Maynez Jr. all scored in the first matchup with the Cougars.
Women’s Soccer
Thursday, Sept. 13: at Buffalo, 6 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
Sunday, Sept. 16: vs. Kent State, 1 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
A trip to Buffalo begins the week for the NIU women’s soccer team before the Huskies return home to host Kent State on Sunday. Last time out, Abby McHugh scored her first career goal, but the Huskies suffered a 3-1 setback to Akron. NIU remains in the thick of the race to make the MAC Tournament as the Huskies are tied for seventh in the standings with Ohio on seven points. Buffalo enters the week on top of the conference with 14 points with a 4-0-2 league record, the Bulls are 10-1-2 overall. Kent State is currently part of a three-way tie for third in the MAC with 11 points and a 3-1-2 conference record.
Cross Country
Friday, Sept. 14: at Bradley Pink Classic
The Huskie cross country team returns to action on Friday as it makes the short trip south to Peoria to compete in the Bradley Pink Classic at the Newman Golf Course. NIU is scheduled to run in the six-kilometer Red Race, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. The Huskies are one of four MAC schools scheduled to participate in the 32-team field, along with Miami, Toledo and Western Michigan. Last time out at the Live in Lou Classic, Brooke Valentine and Joy Jackson led the way for the Huskies as they both posted top-100 finishes in the 422-runner field. The Bradley Pink Classic will represent the final regular season meet for the Huskies, who will then turn their attention toward the MAC Championship in Athens, Ohio on Oct. 29.