Chicago Power player-coach Pato Margetic has left lasting impressions on many young soccer players.

“I remember growing up and watching the ‘Magic Man,'” senior John Kelly said. “He was one of the best players in the nation.”

Now Kelly will get a chance to see Margetic—otherwise known as the Magic Man—close up. The Huskies will host the 1990 National Professional Soccer League Champions on Sunday at 12:05 p.m. at Huskie Soccer Field in an exhibition match.

Margetic, now 31, credits current NIU coach and former Chicago Sting boss Willy Roy with making him the player he was and still is. Margetic, whom Roy described as a Gale Sayers of soccer, was the second leading scorer in the NPSL last year with 149 points.

“It was natural for me to dribble around people and get shots off,” said Margetic, who scored 110 goals and 118 assists in 138 games with the Sting. “But Willy taught me to pass the ball. It made me a much better player.”

Roy has also made him a better coach, Margetic said. “Willy’s major strength was mixing talent with hard workers,” Margetic said. “That’s the type of team I had last year. I had talented players and guys that ran their tails off to get the ball to them.”

Roy has improved many players during his career, and his current team, the NIU Huskies, is not intimidated by the experience of the Power.

“I think (the Power) play at a more competitive level,” Kelly said. “But we’re looking to beat them.”

In order to keep up with Margetic, the Huskies, 0-1-1, will need goals of their own. At the National Hall of Fame/Mayors Cup Tournament last weekend, NIU only managed one goal in two matches.

“I knew initially that scoring goals would be a problem,” Roy said. “We still have to find somebody to replace Willy Jr. Hopefully (midfielder) John Lechner will start playing like he’s capable of playing.”

In hopes to spark the offense, Roy placed junior Todd Moore, who had one goal and three assists last season, at forward.

“In the forward line you have to improvise a lot,” Roy said. “You don’t know how the defender will react to you, so you have to be somewhat of an individual. I think Todd can be that individual.”