DeKALB | Over the weekend the NIU women’s soccer team got hammered twice on the road, dropping a 3-1 decision against Eastern Michigan and a 3-0 game to Central Michigan.

Entering the weekend, both EMU and CMU were undefeated in MAC play; dangerous foreshadowing for a Huskie squad that entered the weekend a mere one game over .500 in conference play.

Despite peppering nine shots in the first half against EMU, the Huskies found themselves behind 1-0 at the break on Friday. The score would reach 3-0 in EMU’s (8-5-3 overall, 5-0-2 MAC) favor before NIU found the back of the net for its lone marker in the 72nd minute.

NIU head coach Carrie Barker saw a story unfold on Friday that she’s seen before.

“Over the last few games we have been coming out slow,” Barker said. “In the second half on Friday I thought we came out with a lot of energy, but [EMU] is a really good program and we didn’t have enough to come back.”

The Sunday matinee between NIU and Central Michigan featured a heavy offensive attack from the Chippewas. Outshooting the Huskies 29-5, CMU (11-3-1, 8-0-0) controlled the ball for the majority of the game in a 3-0 triumph.

Chippewas head coach Tom Anagnost saw his team turn its play up a notch after the first score.

“After that first goal we really controlled the game from there,” Anagnost said. “We were able to convert on our opportunities and put the game away.”

Even with the lopsided score, NIU defender Mo Smunt doesn’t want to give too much credit to the opponent.

“It’s not that we’re playing great teams that are rolling over us,” Smunt said. “They don’t deserve a lot of the goals we give them. Most of the goals are just a result of bad mistakes by us.”

Dropping their last three contests, the Huskies (7-7-1, 3-4-1) are struggling to get anything going against MAC opponents.

“We have been on the road a lot and that is one reason, but we have really just run into a string of games that have us going against some real good programs,” Barker said.