The NIU soccer team has a knack for knocking off top-rated opponents.

Just ask Wisconsin-Madison whom the Huskies beat 2-0; or Akron who lost 1-0 in overtime; or Indiana who breathed a sigh of relief after surviving an onslaught by the Huskies with a 1-1 tie. They were all Top-20 teams when NIU played them last year.

With that in mind, NIU travels to Oneonta, N.Y., to face No. 9 Hartwick at the Hall of Fame/Mayor’s Cup Tournament Saturday at 3 p.m. for its first match of the 1991 season.

“We’re delighted for the chance to play a Top-10 team in the nation,” NIU coach Willy Roy said. “This gives us the exposure we need.”

NIU goalie Markus Roy and the defense came up big in the big games, shutting out Akron and Wisconsin and yielding just an own-goal against mighty Indiana. “I always put pressure on myself for every match,” Markus said. “We’re capable of beating anyone.”

The two freshman, Jay Konrad and Derek Niepomnik, will be in the starting lineup defensively against Hartwick. “It’s going to be tough,” Markus said. “Coaches’ system is hard to get used to. It’s taken us three years. But once we get in a flow, we’ll do alright.”

Last year, Wisconsin-Madison, who was ranked No. 20, was the Huskies’ second opponent of the year before falling to NIU. This year, the Huskies have a No. 9 team right off the bat.

“It would have been nice to have a couple games under our belts,” sweeper Karsten Roy said. Playing in such a high profile tournament will bring us a lot of recognition.

But the recognition only comes after a victory.

“We are very capable of playing a Top-10 team,” coach Roy said. “I’ll play any team, any time.”

The team is Hartwick and the time is 3 p.m. Saturday.