DeKALB | The NIU identity has been lost for the men’s soccer program, but after three straight wins, it may be found again.

After defeating Holy Cross 2-1 and Gonzaga 1-0 in the Lakeside Classic in Evanston, the Huskies look to be back on track, but the team doesn’t think its 100 percent there yet.

“I think the fact that we found ways to win two games this weekend; that is uniquely an NIU characteristic,” said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. “But I still think in terms of our play, our sharpness on both sides of the ball, based on what I think we’re capable of, we’re still not quite there yet.”

This past week, NIU (3-2-1) took some time off from practice to get some things on the table in terms of its work rate and competitiveness and the weekend’s results prove it to be getting closer.

“I think we’re getting close to being an NIU team and having our identity back,” said senior forward Juan Hoyos. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we’re getting there.”

The Huskies trailed the Crusaders (2-3-1) 1-0 at the half, but four minutes into the second, freshman striker James Stevenson put away his first goal on a deflection.

Junior defender Francis Otira didn’t let the match stay tied for too long and in the 56th minute, he headed one in from a pass from sophomore midfielder Rocco Taglia.

On Sunday against the Bulldogs (2-3-0), the game stayed scoreless for 80 minutes until NIU’s go-to striker Hoyos headed in the winning goal from 10 yards out over the keeper.

“It’s a relief,” Hoyos said about his first goal of the season. “I had a couple of games that were pretty bad, but finally I got on the score sheet.”

Stevenson was on constant attack throughout the game as he had five shots with four of them on frame.

The Huskies outshot both of their opponents this weekend by a combined 26-11 with a 11-1 advantage of shots on goal.

Even with the three-game winning streak, Luzzi said that his team doesn’t have the momentum and its focus is Bradley on Friday, but one thought still lingers.

 “It just reinforced the idea that we’re really close to being really good,” Luzzi said. “We’re not really good right now, but we’re really close to being really good.”