On a very windy and very emotional day at Huskie Soccer Field, the NIU men’s soccer team achieved one small goal that coach Steve Simmons welcomed with open arms.

No, the Huskies are not MAC champions. They don’t even head into the MAC Tournament with a winning record.

The only way they’ll get into the NCAA Tournament is by winning the MAC Tournament. But after Tuesday’s match with UW-Milwaukee, Simmons was very happy.

He was able to send his senior class out with a home victory on Senior Day.

“With the year that it’s been result wise, to make sure we send out the seniors, who are absolutely a legacy for this program, the right way, was fantastic to do,” Simmons said. “To have these guys who have meant so much to this program go out in style was so fitting. I’m so proud of them.”

The match was intense, as Simmons and the Huskies expected, but an own goal at the 77:56 mark proved to be all NIU needed.

“For the last couple minutes we knew they were gonna try and swing one forward, try and get the equalizer,” senior Blake Gotkowski said. “We tried to sit back and play it safe.”

And this match with rival UW-M also meant more to the seniors because they were able to retain the LeWang Trophy, given annually to the winner of the match.

“I’m just really excited, really happy about the result,” fellow senior Chris Rufa said. “It’s surreal, last home game. Just trying to enjoy the moment. The LeWang is big time for us.”

The Huskies (6-8-4) will have a week off to prepare for its play-in rematch with Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament. NIU travels to Bowling Green Tuesday, knowing it can be a dangerous team and play the spoiler role for an unsuspecting opponent.

“I hope they’re overlooking us,” Rufa said of the MAC competition. “We’re gonna go in there and come at ‘em as hard as we can. If they take us lightly, it’s their fault, because we’re gonna come out strong. I can promise we’ll come out strong.”