Following a 12-day respite from action, the softball team is prepared to take its home field for the first time this Friday and Saturday against Western Michigan.

While a break is good for any sporting team to recoup possible injuries or just to relax, the Huskies (10-17) had put up their two largest margin of victories in the last two games before this break.

Head coach Christina Sutcliffe believes it is a tough situation, but the momentum is not necessarily lost completely.

“I think it’s kind of a double-edged sword,” Sutcliffe said. “I think it was really good they we were able to heal a couple injuries, kind of refocus on some things we were doing wrong, and just kind of catch our breath before we enter the MAC tournament and really focus on that MAC season. I think in the same sense we got on a huge momentum playing out in California…I’m a little nervous about the layover, especially having to go back inside.”

The team must lay inside because of DeKalb’s weather, which has kept the team from practicing outside for most of the break.

As the Broncos (9-16) prepare to come into DeKalb, the matchup serves as the Huskies’ first home game all season long and the first MAC matchup. The Huskies played their first 27 games on the road, making trips to Texas, Florida, Illinois, and ending with the last 14 games in California.

Senior Amanda Sheppard has been through the gauntlet of extended road trips before, and also knows the benefits and some of the adjustments of coming back home.

“I love playing on the field. We [have] a big home stand this year so I’m ready for it, I think,” Sheppard said. “It’s hard because when it’s too cold your body is affected by it. When you’re outside you’re playing on the turf and you get these true hops and everything seems super easy, and then you get on the dirt and there’s a difference there. We struggle with the transition into it, but I think we’ll be alright getting back into it.”

Western Michigan comes into the contest not having played in almost as long as the Huskies, with its last game on March 16. Its two previous contests were canceled and postponed, and in their last five games the Broncos have won two and lost three.

Sutcliffe has had her coaches and the team beginning to prepare for their first MAC opponent and believes the conference lends itself well to competitive softball and foresees the ability to find success.

“I think we match up pretty well,” Sutcliffe said. “That’s the great thing about our conference, outside of one or two teams anybody can beat anybody on a given day. We’re all pretty evenly matched.”

NIU struggled last season in MAC action, with lots of road games late in the season. Sheppard believes this year is a clean slate, with a new coach, a new schedule and another opportunity to succeed in MAC play.

“I think it’s definitely a new opportunity,” Sheppard said. “Obviously being a senior now you always look to the past, but everything is so new this year with the coaches and the whole entire team, so I think it’s better to look forward than it is to look back.”