Bringing in international talent has been a constant for American soccer over the past few decades to improve the game in the States.

The NIU men’s soccer program has a history of acting similarly and has holstered top overseas recruits, which includes Huskie Hall of Famer Johan Bergseth from Norway.

The mix of players with different soccer backgrounds gives head coach Eric Luzzi and the Huskies a better chance for a stronger outcome.

“I think the biggest thing is they come from a day-in and day-out soccer culture, so they just understand the game at a different level than most American kids,” Luzzi said. “I think when you add the athleticism and physical commitment of our American guys, sprinkle in a few guys who have a really good idea about how to play soccer, you have a chance to have a pretty good team.”

NIU stands in the middle of the conference when it comes to luring in foreign athletes.

The Huskies currently have six on their roster with Hartwick and Buffalo seizing over 10 each, while Akron and Western Michigan have less than five.

The popular belief here in the U.S., mainly due to many Major League Soccer teams bringing over big names from Europe and south of the border, is that the European and other international players come to develop the American game into something better, but that’s just half the truth.

Freshman and Scotland native James Stevenson has been a Huskie for almost a month and has figured out the differences and difficulties of the game we call soccer so that he may progress as well.

“The boys are bigger physically, stronger, more athletic and the transition play is a lot quicker as well,” Stevenson said. “The speed of play is almost twice as fast.”

Stevenson was a member of the Scottish Schoolboys’ National Team and with Alloa Athletic FC’s U19 team back home and had a bit of an idea as to what the game across the pond would bring.

“I knew coming into a Division I program was going to be tough,” Stevenson said. “I think I underestimated the fitness side of it, but I’m just glad to pass it myself because I struggled with it first.”

With the American players and international players helping each other with the poorer parts of their game, both Luzzi and Stevenson hope that the two different types of style can come together for a winning combination.

“It brings a good mix and match because technically Europeans like to pass the ball when Americans can run all day,” Stevenson said. “When I go back to Europe and play, hopefully I’ll be a bit bigger so I can bring the technical game and physical game together at the same time.”