DeKALB | Put on your dancing shoes, NIU men’s soccer.

The Huskies (14-5-1) received an automatic NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in 33 years after a 1-0 MAC championship game win over Akron (13-5-1) on Sunday.

“This is not just winning a game or a championship,” NIU coach Steve Simmons said. “It is the culmination of so much hard work. This reinforces everything these guys have been working on.”

NIU finds out its first round NCAA tournament destination at 3 p.m. today on ESPNews. A selection show is set for Fatty’s Pub and Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway.

MAC Newcomer of the Year, junior forward Marcus McCarty, gave NIU a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute, with his 11th goal of the season. Freshman forward Luis De La Cerda picked up the assist.

Sophomore goalkeeper Joe Zimka had six saves, including a penalty kick stop in the 26th minute where Zimka stopped Akron’s Ashley Kozicki one-on-one. Juniors Chris Rufa and Steve Algozino led the rest of NIU’s defense.

“Those defenders are warriors,” the newly minted MAC Coach of the Year said. “There are piano players and piano carriers. Luis [De La Cerda] and Marcus [McCarty]: piano players. The majority of our guys: piano carriers — guys that put you on their back and say, ‘Let’s go.'”

After Akron scored a goal in the 25th minute that was called back due to an offsides penalty, it almost tied the match again in the 67th minute.

Akron senior forward and MAC Player of the Year Sinisa Ubiparipovic launched a shot from outside the keeper box that forced a jumping two-fisted punch save from Zimka.

On Friday, a 3-0 NIU win over Buffalo advanced the Huskies into the championship.

An active De La Cerda created several scoring opportunities. He tallied the first assist on Algozino’s goal in the 32nd minute and scored the second goal on a feed from senior midfielder Justin McGrane in the 80th minute.

McCarty picked up a break-away goal to provide the final margin against a Buffalo squad that ended the game three men down.