DeKALB —In a flashback to 2023, NIU men’s soccer (8-5-4, 3-1-3 MVC) was eliminated from the Missouri Valley Conference championship tournament by the Western Michigan University Broncos (6-9-3, 2-2-3) on Sunday. With the loss, the Huskies fail to advance past the quarterfinals after sharing the regular season championship title with the University of Evansville and Drake University.
The last time the Huskies faced Western Michigan in the tournament, the Huskies fell in a 3-1 loss after taking the match to extra time.
“Hugely disappointed for the season to end like this and here at home,” said NIU men’s soccer head coach Ryan Swan. “I’ve got to give credit to Western Michigan, I think they defended really well. I think they restricted our opportunities today. I don’t know, it just kind of seemed flat, especially in the first half. At this stage of the season, everyone’s good, obviously in the playoffs, so just disappointment right now.”
Two goals in the first 20 minutes for the Broncos were enough to send them to the semifinals to face Drake, while handing the Huskies their fourth shutout of the season.
NIU conceded a free kick in the 11th minute, which redshirt freshman winger Liam Smith took advantage of, sending the ball into the lower right side of the net to put Western Michigan ahead.
Junior goalkeeper Atahan Arslan saved two shots directly before the goal, but Smith capitalized on the chaotic scene in front of the goal to put the ball past Arslan.
Minutes later off another free kick for the Broncos, redshirt senior forward Roni Sylejmani doubled Western Michigan’s lead.
“We talked about how important it was to not give up silly free kicks and how we’d have to defend against them,” Swan said. “To give up two goals from set pieces today is a hard one to take.”
The Broncos’ defense was able to limit the Huskies to just 2 shots on goal in the match, which came from senior defender Amara Kamara and sophomore forward Katai Mukuka.
Freshman forward Vance Sheffield led the Huskies with 4 shots, while Mukuka created 3 shots.
The Huskies outshot the Broncos 15-14 but allowed the Broncos to take 8 shots on goal. Arslan recorded 6 saves, while the Huskies forced Broncos redshirt junior goalkeeper Alex Lindenwirth to make two stops.
The loss comes as only the Huskies’ second loss in MVC play, after falling to Evansville on Oct. 31.
“It’ll be interesting for us to watch back, because I don’t think it was too different from when we played them (Western Michigan) earlier this year,” Swan said. “We were a little flat in that game as well. I’m not entirely sure what it was. I felt good, we had a good couple days of training, but it’s hard to put my finger on it right now, what happened today in such an important game.”
With the Huskies’ season over, Swan emphasized the room to grow before next season.
“There’s some really high points,” Swan said of the season. “Sharing the co-conference championship, wins against Notre Dame and stuff here. I think there were times when we showed that we really are quality, but then there were moments where we’re not quite where we want to be yet. So I think it gives us a goal and something to drive for next year.”
