Time has healed the NIU soccer team’s disappointment after being snubbed by the NCAA committee last November.

But, time has also taken away the Huskies’ leading goal scorer Willy Roy Jr., who tallied 33 goals and 43 assists for 109 points in his NIU career.

The Huskies take on Loyola in an exhibition opener at noon Saturday at Huskie Soccer Field.

Coach Willy Roy sees springtime as a chance to give the players a focus going into summer so “when Aug. 19 comes, we can get into the tactical aspect of the game,” Roy said.

In hopes to compensate for the loss of Roy Jr., who scored 15 goals and had 18 assists last season, Roy will convert sophomore Dusty Showers into a forward. Showers, a 6-2 former defender, terrorized opponents’ forwards with his physical play last year.

“I think (Shower’s new position) is a positive move,” Roy said. “He’s got speed, he’s quick, and he’s aggressive.”