The first full month of NIU fall sports is in the books, with September showcasing various high points for some programs, while some teams reached lows they haven’t seen in decades.
Here are three high points, and three low points, from NIU Athletics in September.
HIGH: VOLLEYBALL’S 9-2 START TO SEASON
With its best start since 2011 and a 2-0 record to open Mid-American Conference play, volleyball is arguably NIU’s best team this fall.
After going 3-0 at the NIU Invitational to start the month, the Huskies took two of three at the Hampton Inn Invitational to round out non-conference play.
A reverse sweep against Central Michigan University on Sept. 25 and a three-set sweep over the Eastern Michigan University Eagles on Sept. 26 propelled NIU to a 2-0 start to MAC play, its best start since 2022.
LOW: WOMEN’S SOCCER’S WINLESS MONTH
Ending August with a 2-2-1 record, women’s soccer went winless in September. With losses to the University of Wisconsin and the University of Miami, and low-scoring ties with the University of Toledo and the University of Akron, NIU now holds a 2-4-3 record.
The Huskies’ offense struggled in their second month, recording just 1 goal over four matches. The Huskies found the back of the net in the 1-1 tie with Toledo, but were otherwise kept scoreless.
NIU sits second to last in MAC standings with 2 points, and is going to need to pick things up offensively if it wants want to make a run for the conference title.
HIGH: CRAIG LONG’S FIRST PLACE FINISH
Taking first place at the Badger Invitational, hosted by the University of Wisconsin, junior Craig Long became the first Huskie in over two years to win an invitational.
While the Huskies took fifth place, Long shot a career-low 205, which was good for 11 under par.
NIU’s team performance was amplified by Long’s career performance, and was a highlight for NIU in September.
LOW: FOOTBALL’S 0-3 MONTH
The second NIU team to go the month of September winless is football. After narrowly defeating the College of the Holy Cross in the season opener, the Huskies followed their sole win with losses to the University of Maryland, Mississippi State University and San Diego State University.
Wins at either Maryland or Mississippi State would have marked the Huskies’ 20th boneyard victory, after the historic win at Notre Dame last fall marked the 19th. While the Huskies were underdogs going into these games, losses are still losses.
From mistakes made by the special teams unit to a seemingly weak offense, the only real positive from NIU football has been the defense, especially redshirt senior Quinn Urwiler, who averages 12.5 tackles a game and leads the nation with 6.75 solo tackles per game.
HIGH: MEN’S SOCCER’S 1-1 TIE TO START MVC PLAY
While a tie doesn’t seem like the greatest start to Missouri Valley Conference play, this start is a vast improvement from how the Huskies fared in conference play last season.
Redshirt junior midfielder Jakub Drazek’s first career goal evened the score for the Huskies’ 1-1 tie against the Drake University Bulldogs, who were picked as the preseason favorite to win the conference.
NIU went 1-6-1 in the MVC last season, with a 0-4 start, so coming out of the first conference game with a point is considered a win for the Huskies.
LOW: FOOTBALL’S 6-3 LOSS TO SAN DIEGO STATE
Last, but certainly not least, is NIU football‘s 6-3 loss to the San Diego State Aztecs in the final game of the month. Football’s month was already low, but this game deserved its own spot.
As the score indicates, this game was not good for the Huskies. Not only was it NIU’s lowest scoring game since 2010, but it is the lowest game in all of college football this season.
The offense couldn’t get anything going, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Josh Holst does not seem like the answer. A lot of work needs to be done for this team to have a chance at being eligible for a bowl game, and a MAC championship run seems well out of reach.
