While many students focus on this weekend’s homecoming activities, NIU’s soccer squad will be focusing on a much different event.

The Huskies will travel to Eastern Illinois Saturday to defend their Illinois Governor’s Cup title. NIU hosted the Cup last year and pounded Western Illinois 5-0 and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 2-0.

Although NIU’s opponents have improved from last year, the Huskies have improved tremendously with an 8-2-1 record.

NIU will be exhibiting its talent against EIU, a team very similar to NIU, in the first round.

“They have about the same team as we do,” said Coach Willy Roy. “They have a good balance and like to mix it up. I think it will be an evenly matched game. The only difference between the two teams will be in the uniforms.”

Roy’s team is suffering some illnesses at the moment. Defender Dusty Showers is one of the sick Huskies and that could put a damper on the weekend matches.

Roy stresses that the team could use some more goal production from Willy Roy Jr. (14 points) and Per Ekholdt (11), who have been silent in the last three games. However, Roy feels NIU is capable of defeating EIU.

“I just hope we play as well as we did in the first half against Northwestern (a 1-0 win). We have to get healthy and mentally fit,” said Roy.

The Huskies lost to Eastern 1-0 two years ago in the Governor’s Cup.

If NIU beats EIU, they will play the winner of the WIU – SIU-E game. SIU-E is favored, but Roy is hoping for an upset.

The Huskies edged SIU-E earlier this year 4-3 at NIU in a very exciting match. Ekholdt scored two headers in the game.

WIU is a much improved team and has suffered numerous close losses. Roy and his Huskies will get a chance to watch both teams in action before they go head-to-head with EIU.

Presently, Roy is happy with his team’s performance but sees room for improvements.

“I would have to give us a B rating. We have some A’s and some C’s, but overall it’s a B rating. Karsten (Roy) has done a great job in the last two games as sweeper. Markus (Roy) is as great of a goal keeper I have seen on the collegiate level. Tony Adolfs needs to get into better form, but I know he will get on the right track again,” said Roy, who also praised the works of Jim Corno and Todd Moore.