DeKALB | It was a blaze of epic proportions.

Legend holds that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern on October 8, 1871 and spurned a two day blaze that ravaged the city of Chicago.

Brought to their knees by the raging inferno, the city refused to yield and immediately began to lay the foundation for what would become one of the world’s greatest metropolises.

The NIU men’s soccer team has risen from similar depths to become a player on the national stage.

Stung by a second round loss to Indiana in the NCAA tournament last year, five NIU players have joined forces with the Chicago Fire to receive valuable off-season experience against world-class competition.

Seniors Marcus McCarty and Chris Rufa are playing in the United States Soccer Professional Development League with the Chicago Fire Premier.

Junior Joe Zimka, sophomore Kyle Knotek and incoming freshman Luis Mojica are in the US-Super Y League Super 20s team.

The quintet of NIU soccer players are involved in leagues that are meant to simulate professional games, but still allow participants to maintain their amateur status.

“It has been a lot of fun,” Zimka said. “These are the top 17-20 year olds in the Chicago area. We are treated like professionals, but we aren’t pros. The coaches, the gear, the accommodations and the competitive environment have been great.”

Last year Zimka was the top statistical goal keeper in the NCAA. In two weeks he will get the chance to practice with the Fire’s first team.

The presence of five teammates is a factor that Zimka believes will benefit NIU when preseason training begins in August.

“What is real nice is that in August it will be like we haven’t missed a beat,” McCarty said. “We will have maintained our conditioning.”

The competition in the P.D.L. features the top players from Midwest colleges, and can get as fierce as the action on the pitch in the fall.

“The players are all from surrounding schools,” McCarty said. “We’ll talk some trash out there and have some fun with that.”

Thus far the P.D.L squad is 12-6-2 (22 points), and is in second place in the Great Lakes Division.

Just as future generations have continued to maintain the heart beat of Chicago, a city that our ancestors built from ashes, so to do these five players view it as their job to supply their own signature to the NIU soccer program and carry on a winning tradition.

“I hate to lose,” McCarty said. “No one wants to be the team that breaks a streak. We are training hard and I couldn’t imagine enduring a losing season. I want to keep the high standard that has been established here at NIU intact.”