It’s back to business for the NIU soccer team Tuesday as they travel to DePaul for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Blue Demons.

The Huskies (4-1-0) are coming off perhaps the biggest win of the season, a 1-0 upset of No. 13-ranked Akron University on Saturday.

The last time NIU knocked off a Top-20 team, the following game was a disaster. The Huskies went to Wisconsin and shutout the Badgers 2-0, then traveled to Eastern Illinois only to suffer the lone loss of the season so far, 3-1. A let-down is the last thing on the Huskies’ minds.

“I think it’s a little different this time,” head coach Willy Roy said. “We went to Eastern where it was 95 degrees and we traveled a long way. Plus we have a little more time to prepare for DePaul.”

Because this game marks an area rivalry, Roy feels it is an important game to win.

“It’s great for recruiting,” Roy said. “People want to see which school has a better program, so you have to make sure you win.”

Win is what the Huskies did last season. DePaul came to DeKalb and NIU posted a 3-0 shutout at Huskie Soccer Field. But, the game on Roy’s mind is the matchup in 1988. The Huskies, who hold a 4-0-1 series edge over the Demons, traveled to DePaul and outshot the Demons 23-1, but the game ended up in a scoreless tie.

“I will remind the guys of what happened two years ago,” Roy said. “So they don’t forget what DePaul is capable of.”

Roy did say that even though he doesn’t know much about the Blue Demons this year, he has noticed they’ve been playing in low scoring games.

“They’ve had a coaching switch, but I don’t expect a major change from last year’s club,” Roy said. “It sounds like they have a pretty solid defense because most of their scores have been very low.”

Speaking of low scores, the Huskies have been involved in some low scoring contests themselves. NIU has shut out four of the five teams they’ve played so far. Goalkeeper Markus Roy will be seeking his third consecutive shutout this season and 16th career blanking.

The offensive side for NIU has been clicking so far. Willy Roy Jr., an All-America Candidate, is leading the Huskies with 11 points already this season on five assists and three goals.