NIU women’s soccer will be on the road this weekend for the last time, taking on Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green Friday and Sunday.

These matchups become integral to the season if the Huskies (2-12-2, 1-7-0 MAC) wish to put themselves into a position to get into the MAC Tournament.

“Every game is an extremely important game,” said Carrie Barker, NIU women’s soccer head coach. “We’re still alive in the tournament, and we’re taking it one game at a time.”

Miami (8-7-0) will come into the game fresh off two wins against Ohio and Akron. The Redhawks come into this game with a lot of firepower, ranking second in the MAC with 27 goals scored this season.

“I think in previous games, we’ve been playing well by creating some opportunities,” Barker said. “Miami is a very good team, but we’re going to try and create opportunities and then put them away.”

NIU has not won a contest at Miami since 1998, trailing the overall series 4-9-1.

Sunday, NIU will square off against Bowling Green (5-12) that comes off three straight losses. The Falcons will have a Friday matchup against Western Michigan in their path before Sunday’s contest with the Huskies.

This is the first time in the last three match-ups with Bowling Green that NIU will be at its home field, also marking Barker’s first time there.

As the season draws to a close, wins are at a premium, and the hopes of a tournament berth start Friday against Miami.

“This is the only game we worry about,” Barker said. “We have two spots we’re fighting for. Miami is fighting for those two spots as well. It’s going to be a physical battle [that] both teams are fighting for the points.”