The tough defense of the NIU soccer team will be challenged by an explosive New Mexico offense when the two clubs clash at Huskie Soccer Field, Wednesday at 4 p.m.

New Mexico, which has scored 14 goals in six matches, arrives in DeKalb with a 4-2-1 record and a No. 7 ranking in the Midwest Regional poll.

NIU, 2-1-1 and ranked No. 5, boasts a strong defense that has allowed just three goals in four matches.

These two middle-ranked teams need a win to better their position and to move up in the rankings, but New Mexico coach Klaus Weber said this is not a must-win match—yet.

“It’s too early in the season to be a must-win match,” he said. “But down the line it could have a big impact.”

Just like NIU coach Willy Roy has been an impact coach. “I know Willy,” Weber said. “He never does anything halfway. He’s turned a no-name program around in just two years. I know he has a formidable team up there.”

NIU goalie Markus Roy, the last line of defense, has come up with some spectacular saves in past matches, but he would prefer not having to make them against the Lobos.

“Hopefully, I won’t see a whole lot of shots,” Markus Roy said. “If our defense plays up to par, then I probably won’t. But if I do—well, it’s my job.”

“That’s why we gave him a scholarship,” coach Roy said.

With a mixture of senior leadership and freshman talent, NIU is continuing to improve, Roy said. “But against top competition like New Mexico, we have to score some goals and our defense has to step up,” he said. “This is the time we have to get down to the nitty-gritty.”

“We have to do the little things that help us win games,” Markus Roy added.

Leading the Lobos’ attack is forward Matt Ladendorf who has five of the 14 New Mexico goals and one assist. “He has as many goals as our entire team,” Roy said. “It’s going to take a total team-effort to stop him.”

“He’s been hot lately,” Weber said. “Hopefully, it will continue. But we’ve had balanced scoring from our front line.”

The Lobos can also rely on Derek Barne, the ninth-leading scorer at New Mexico and Mike Hanns, who has three goals and two assists in 250 minutes of play.

The NIU defense dominated Northwestern last Sunday 2-0 and New Mexico is coming off of a 4-1 loss to UNLV.

“A road trip is a road trip,” Weber said. “We went to Las Vegas and didn’t play very well. Hopefully we can make a better showing in DeKalb.”

Despite its location in New Mexico, Weber’s team will not face a drastic temperature change when it arrives in DeKalb, because Albuquerque, N.M.—at an elevation of 3,000 feet—goes through the fall season, just like DeKalb. The low temperature in Albuquerque Monday was 50 degrees.

“We’re going to make them feel as uncomfortable as possible on the field,” Roy said, “and be nice to them after the game.”