DeKALB | Women’s soccer (1-4-2) opens up Mid-American Conference play this weekend at home when it hosts the Central Michigan University Chippewas (8-0-0) 6:30 p.m. Friday.

They will play the Eastern Michigan University Eagles (2-4-2) 2 p.m. Sunday, both games will be at the Soccer and Track and Field Complex.

Central Michigan is one of three unbeaten, untied teams in the NCAA Division-I and is off to its best start in program history. The Chippewas lead the MAC in goals (2.29 per game), assists (2.71 per game), points — two for a goal, one for assist — (7.29 per game) and goals allowed (0.57 per game). They are also tied for first in shutouts with five on the season.

The Huskies lost their last meeting with the Chippewas, 2-0, last season.

Alexis Pelafas, sophomore forward and midfielder, rocketed a shot from 18 yards off the crossbar and in. Ten minutes later, senior defender Taylor Potts shot from long range into the top left corner of the goal to double the Chippewas’ lead.

Pelafas leads the MAC in points (3.17 per game), shots (5.50 per game) and goals (1.50 per game). Central Michigan has three players tied for first in assists in the MAC (0.43 per game).

NIU drew with Eastern Michigan, 1-1, in double overtime at their last meeting.

Last season, senior forward Nicole Gobbo put the Huskies on top four minutes into the match.

Just before the end of the first half, Eagles’ Kirstin Nason, sophomore midfielder and forward, tied the game on a shot deflected in by a Huskie defender.

Eastern Michigan is tied with NIU for tenth in the conference in corner kicks, averaging 2.67 per game, and for fourth in shutouts, averaging 0.33. The Eagles rank 11th in the MAC in goals and assists, averaging 0.67 per game for both categories.

The Huskies average 0.33 goals and assists per game, ranking last in the conference.

NIU junior goalkeeper Amy Annala ranks third in the MAC in saves with 5.80 per game and is tied for fourth in the conference in shutouts with three on the season.