After earning its second conference win against Hartwick over the weekend, NIU men’s soccer will turn around and play the ninth-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles in Milwaukee, tonight.

The Golden Eagles (11-0) are undefeated this season as they come off a big win against second-ranked Connecticut. This will start a week of tough tests for the Huskies as they also play seventh ranked Akron on Saturday.

Coach Eric Luzzi said this game against Marquette will most likely come down to set pieces.

“They’re a good team,” Luzzi said. “They’re playing with a lot of confidence right now, so they throw a lot of numbers forward comfortably, and they’re keeping the ball pretty well. The reality is they have a 6’8” center back and 85 percent of the goals they have scored this season have come off of set pieces. Its not as much a tactical battle as it is a set piece battle.”

Luzzi is referring to Marquette defender Axel Sjoberg, a 6’7” defender out of Stockholm, Sweden that has four goals and three assists on the season, on a handful on set pieces.

Restraint and control while making tackles will be important for the Huskies, so they do not allow Marquette to set up their dangerous set piece play.

Golden Eagles senior forward Andy Huftalin, who has a team high six goals and one assist on the season, will also be a big threat for the Huskies defense.

NIU sophomore mid-fielder Jayson LeSeth said it will be important for his team to keep up the pressure on the opposition.

“Not letting their team’s central players get on the ball,” LeSeth said. “Pressing their back line, make them play long balls over the top, and just keeping the same kind of aggression that we’ve had in the past couple games, making positive chances, and converting them.”

A player who is looking forward to the test is sophomore forward/mid-fielder Isaac Kannah. Kannah has a goal and an assist this year and will be looking to find the back of the net against the Golden Eagles.

“We played Marquette in the spring and I don’t see the big difference,” Kannah said. “They’re playing well, so I’m excited to play their back line and hoping to get a goal.”