After a weekend away, NIU women’s soccer returns to DeKalb to start a four-game homestand this weekend against Bowling Green and Central Michigan.

Last weekend, the Huskies (5-4-2, 1-1-2 MAC), earned four out of possible six points with a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw against Buffalo.

If NIU wants to continue to build off the success of this season so far, then they need to take advantage of these next two weekends of home games.

“We need to get some points at home now,” said coach John Ross. “We got some points on the road. We got a big win on Friday and we have to build on that for this coming Friday.”

Friday, the Falcons of Bowling Green will take on the Huskies. The Falcons are (1-10-1 0-3-1 MAC) are currently on a two-game losing streak, after suffering losses at Eastern and Western Michigan, respectively.

Despite a poor record, junior mid-fielder Francis Boukidis said the Falcons can not be taken for granted and have to be respected.

“Well, I’d say there’s two factors that play into that,” Boukidis said. “One is our coaches constantly telling us that we have to play hard and put in the effort, they always get on us about that. And then also we have our captains who keep us in check with that too. There always encouraging us, but they’ll remind us that we still got to work hard for victories and we can’t anything for granted.”

There was one particular area of the game that Boukidis said is important for the Huskies to do if they want to earn a victory against the Falcons.

“When we win balls in the air were the most effective,” Boukids said. “We have three really good center mid-fielders that are good at winning balls in the air and hopefully that’s what we can capitalize on,”

Sunday, NIU will host the Chippewas of Central Michigan (7-4-1, 3-1-0 MAC), who is a game behind Eastern Michigan for the lead in the MAC West.

Last weekend, CMU beat Western Michigan 1-0 and lost to Eastern Michigan, 2-0.

Sunday’s game might be a measuring stick for the Huskies to see where they stand compared to the upper echelon of division competition.