As the NIU men’s soccer team prepares for its MAC opener Friday at home against Western Michigan, the Huskies might face another task, although one they might have been expecting.

As defending MAC West champions, the Huskies will have a target on their back for the remainder of the season.

The Huskies went 4-1 in MAC play last year and beat Western Michigan handily, 4-1. NIU’s only conference loss last season came at the hands of Buffalo. The Huskies get their shot at revenge on the Bulls at home Oct. 20.

Coach Steve Simmons said the real test for the Huskies will be Oct. 13, when they travel to Akron to take on the Zips.

Finding the net

During its 4-0 loss to Wisconsin last Wednesday, NIU caught an extremely bad break in a match that, at the time, was still scoreless.

On an attempted clear, the Huskies fell victim to an own goal, putting itself in an unfortunate 1-0 hole.

“Now you’re battling back from a goal that was really unlucky and probably shouldn’t have happened,” said sophomore midfielder Kyle Knotek. “It does hurt.”

Knotek said that goal set a negative tone for the match.

Bring it back

The Huskies endured another deflating break in its 1-0 loss to Drake on Sunday.

On a free kick from Blake Gotkowski, junior Drew Jeskey headed it home for a goal.

However, the goal was waved off due to an offside call, one of eight offside calls the Huskies committed in the match.