The offensive woes continued for the NIU soccer team yesterday, but the defense held firm for a 0-0 tie with Eastern Illinois University at Huskie Soccer Field.

Dave Weichman and Jay Konrad shouldered the responsibility of marking EIU speedsters LeBaron Hollimon and Paul Agyeman and held them in check.

“Man-to-man is my favorite way to cover,” Weichman said.

“Dave and I had our hands full,” Konrad added. “I really like man coverage because I know that I’m on him. When you know who their best players are, you can’t let them run free.”

Yet Hollimon and Agyeman almost gave the Panthers (7-5-1) a win. With 5:03 left in regulation, Hollimon took a direct free-kick from the left side. Agyeman snuck across the right side and headed the ball, but it bounced off the left post and Dusty Showers cleared it.

“The ball was hit to him not to me,” Weichman said. “I got beat.”

The Huskies (8-3-2) had eight shots on goal for the match while Eastern managed five.

“We’ve always had opportunities,” NIU coach Willy Roy said. “I don’t know if it’s a hex or something. I know they all want to do well, we just haven’t been able to capitalize.”

Karsten Roy was moved back to his sweeper position for the match and Willy Roy said that left the midfield unproductive.

“We needed a little better passing from the midfield,” Roy said. “With better passing, we could have opened a few things up, but we didn’t get it done.”

The match was a typical EIU-NIU affair—physical. EIU’s Robert Tomic, a 6-5, 210-pound defender, headbutted Konrad while both went up for a headball leaving a huge gash on Konrad’s nose.

“Whenever we play Eastern, nothing ever goes right,” Roy said. “But give them credit, they came here not to lose, and they didn’t.”

EIU coach Cizo Mosnia was never cut from the Chicago Sting by NIU coach Willy Roy as stated in Friday’s paper. The Northern Star regrets the error.