College sports are officially back! The Northern Illinois University volleyball and women’s soccer teams have their home openers this week while men’s soccer kicks off their 2022 season with a road trip out west.
Volleyball
Friday, Aug. 26: vs NJIT, noon – Live Video | Live Stats
Friday, Aug. 26: vs South Dakota State, 6 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
Saturday, Aug. 27: vs UIC, 2 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
After facing Northern Iowa in an exhibition match last weekend, the Huskies officially commence the 2022 campaign this weekend when they host the annual Huskie Invitational. NIU will play host to UIC, South Dakota State and NJIT at the tournament. Play begins Friday when UIC and SDSU square off at 10 a.m. Following the opener, the Huskies will take on NJIT at noon before NJIT and UIC battle it out at 4 p.m. The nightcap will feature the Huskies and SDSU at or around 6 p.m. On Saturday, SDSU and NJIT will kick things off at noon while NIU vs UIC will conclude the tournament at 2 p.m. Games will be held at Victor E. Court in NIU’s Convocation Center.
Women’s Soccer
Friday, Aug. 26: vs Lindenwood, 4 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
Sunday, Aug. 28: vs Southern Indiana, 1 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
The NIU women’s soccer team plays its first two home games of the season this week as it hosts Lindenwood and Southern Indiana. The Huskies welcome Lindenwood to DeKalb on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. before hosting Southern Indiana at 1 p.m. on Sunday, admission to all NIU Soccer matches is free of charge. The Huskies are coming off a season-opening victory at Eastern Kentucky. Reegan Kingpavong and Lea Gruennagel each scored in the victory over the Colonels while freshman goalkeeper Deighton Wamer made three saves to pick up the victory.
Men’s Soccer
Thursday, Aug. 25: at San Francisco, 6 p.m. – Live Video
Sunday, Aug 28: at Saint Mary’s (Calif.), 3 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
The defending MAC regular season and tournament champion Huskie men’s soccer team begins its regular season this weekend with a trip to the west coast. NIU opens the campaign at San Francisco on Thursday before facing St. Mary’s (Calif.) on Sunday. The Huskies return seven starters from a season ago when they tied a school record with 15 victories and reached the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Enrique Banuelos scored in both of NIU’s two preseason exhibition matches and is the leading returning scorer for the Huskies, having tallied 13 points a season ago (3 goals, 7 assists).