“Letting the ball do the work” is a common phrase in soccer. It’s a phrase that coaches tell players when they need to start passing more, opposed to trying to dribble past players.

A fluid passing game is one of the Huskies biggest strengths, and Des Plaines, Ill. native Jayson LeSeth is no stranger to letting the ball do the work.

A returning player, sophomore LeSeth was a big part of NIU’s success last season. The central mid-fielder played in all 21 games, starting 19. He scored two goals and tallied five assists including a game-winning goal against Marquette in overtime.

This season, after missing the first game against Creighton, LeSeth has started the rest of NIU’s (1-3-2) matches. He most recently notched 70 minutes in the 2-0 win against Iona College, the Huskies first win of the season.

Coach Eric Luzzi is glad to have LeSeth back in the line up.

“There’s no question Jayson is a very important piece of our team,” Luzzi said. “He’s a very important piece to the way we want to attack and move the ball. He’s very, very smart, and a very good player.“

A true box-to-box midf-ielder, LeSeth works hard for the Huskies. He is always seen around the ball, whether he is looking for a pass, or looking to receive a pass.

A strong defender as well, the Huskies number 12, likes to get stuck into tackles and is seemingly fearless defensively.

“Personally I like to play,” LeSeth said. “I like to move the ball, keep the ball, down to feet, and pass the ball. It’s just the way I am.”

With freshman Bertrand Gaschot and Gabe Christianson pushing for play time, LeSeth has done well keeping his spot in the center of the park. He and captain Mike Mascitti have played well together, though it hasn’t shown on the stat sheet.

Hopefully the tides are starting to turn for the Huskies, dominating teams in possession and limiting opponents attacking threats. All that has been missing has been the goals, as NIU has only put in one multiple goal performance this season.

“We need to improve on taking our chances each game,” LeSeth said. “We haven’t really given stuff away to teams, they create one or two chances at most, and we have given them those one or two dangerous chances that they capitalize on, and I think that’s the difference right now.”

A gritty, blue-collar player like LeSeth will be needed if the Huskies want to turn their season around. The pieces are all there, they just need to come together.