It’s no secret NIU men’s soccer hasn’t got to a great start this season.

However, those results may be swept under the rug when the Huskies (1-5-2) open up conference play against Florida Atlantic Sunday.

The Owls (1-5-1) come into this game with a similar record to the Huskies. Florida Atlantic most recently dropped its conference opener to West Virginia, 4-0.

Coach Eric Luzzi has seen changes in the Owl’s play over the last few seasons.

“By all accounts, they are better than they have been,” Luzzi said. “[The] last couple years, they have been a sitting team, sounds like they are a pressing team right now.”

Though the Huskies have five losses on the season, their play has been admirable. Luzzi says starting conference play gives his team a fresh start.

“What happens out of conference doesn’t really have anything to do with in conference and vice versa,” Luzzi said. “That’s the approach we are going to take. Everybody in conference is zero and zero right now.”

Freshman mid-fielder Gabe Christianson has played a good amount of minutes for NIU this season and said the team relishes the start of conference play.

“Obviously we have had some tough results,” Christianson said. “But I feel like the team is in a good place mentally and physically. It’s sort of like a new start, that’s the great thing about conference play. Now its what we can control in the conference so we are going to go out and try and win it.”

The Huskies will need to get off to a good start in the conference if they want to achieve their goal and return to the NCAA Tournament.

This will be the fifth game in a row that the Huskies have played on the road and Luzzi knows that the heat will be a factor.

“It’s a tough place to play actually,” Luzzi said. “It’s a nice facility, but it’s a tough place to play just ’cause of the weather. Obviously it is going to be hotter than it is here up north. The guys just have to make sure they bring the right approach.”