Let the games begin.

The NIU women’s soccer team will embark on its 2011-12 season with hosting the NIU Tourney.

The Huskies will try to fatten up their record at home, as last season they were 7-1-1 at home while they went 1-8-0 on the road.

“You always want to play at home because you know your surroundings,” said NIU women’s head soccer coach Carrie Barker. “I think there’s definitely an advantage to playing at home; it’s a weekend opener and there’s a lot of excitement going on.”

NIU will kick the tires on a match-up against South Dakota State. The last meeting occurred in August 2007, where they suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Jackrabbits. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday.

Following a one-day respite, the Huskies will play North Dakota at 1:30 p.m. This will mark the first time ever that NIU has squared off against North Dakota.

Also participating in this tournament will a MAC foe in Western Michigan. The Huskies will not face The Broncos this weekend, but are slated for a regular season finale game on Oct. 27.

South Dakota State (0-2) comes into this weekend without a win or a goal to its name. The Jackrabbits are coming off a 1-0 loss to Creighton and a 5-0 shellacking from Minnesota. Despite the apparent lack of scoring, South Dakota State is averaging 10 shots and four shots on goal per game.

Sunday’s opponent, North Dakota, enters the fray at 1-0, coming off a win against South Dakota by a score of 3-2.

The Huskies will be led into the game Friday by two-year captain and senior Meaghan Bennett.

“Seniors all have been incredible leaders, so it’s not just one person leading the team; it’s the upper-classman and the captain of the team as well,” Barker said.