In its last season as a member of the Big Central Soccer Conference, the NIU soccer team has its eyes set on improving last years 0-6-0 intraconference record.

The Huskies will join the Association of Mid-Continent Universities the following year so the 1989 fall season offers the team a chance to make its mark in the BCSC before departing.

However, one change the team will see this year is the home playing surface. In years past, home soccer games were played on AstroTurf at Huskie Stadium. But head coach Willy Roy moved to a grass field west of the stadium.

“I think this is great,” said head coach Willy Roy as he looked over his new domain. “We practice on grass so now our home field is on grass. It’s certainly an advantage.

NIU joins the majority of other college soccer programs that play their collegiate matches on a natural surface.

Roy, who was recently inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame, knows it will take more than a surface change for NIU to be successful. The third-year Huskie boss needs production from key players in order to capture a winning season.

“We want to have a good year,” Roy said. “I feel its going to be an open year (in the BCSC). I feel we have a shot.”

Many of Roy’s players were active in summer programs in order to stay soccer oriented. By the looks of things this fall, Roy said the players look much better than last year.

Returning are 14 lettermen, eight of whom are starters on the squad. Familiar names like Willy Roy Jr., Karsten Roy, Tony Adolfs, Jim Corno, Mark Siegwald, Frank Sparacino, David Pacwa and Jerry Pruszynski are all back.

Stopping incoming shots at the Huskie net will be sophomore Markus Roy. The NIU “net man” earned First-Team All-BCSC honors for his defensive skills. Backing up Roy in goal will be 1988 red-shirt Tim Spiegel.

A quick look at the schedule and one might notice the challenge confronting NIU—mainly the Sept. 13 match with NCAA champion Indiana University. The Huskies suffered a tough 2-1 loss to the Hoosiers last year and will look to battle IU tough this year.

The 7-10-1 overall record for NIU last year was met with some ups-and-downs. One of the high marks was a first place finish in the Illinois Governors Cup. A repeat of that along with a first place finish in the BCSC Tournament, which will be held at NIU, would be welcome news for coach Roy and his players.