DeKALB | Uncharted waters await a pair of novice NCAA men’s soccer tournament teams.

No. 19 NIU hosts a first-round game against Loyola at 1 p.m. Saturday at Huskie Soccer Field.

NIU (14-5-1) made the field of 48 for the first time since 1973. It will be the first trip to the postseason for Loyola (11-7-2).

There are several similarities that have emerged between the two squads. Both teams won their conference tournaments for an automatic berth and have posted back-to-back shutouts.

In the MAC tournament, the offense was driven by the forward tandem of freshman Luis De La Cerda and junior Marcus McCarty.

De La Cerda went from super sub to starter and produced a goal and assisted on both game-winning goals. The Waubonsie product is second on the team with 16 points.

McCarty has racked up 11 goals and 24 points to lead the NIU offense.

So will the two be paired again as starters?

NIU coach Steve Simmons played coy with his offensive strategy.

“It is hard not to think of those two right now isn’t it?” Simmons rhetorically asked. “That is because they are getting things done. It is always nice to have a group or pair of guys in form that gives you an extra edge. However, we’ve had great depth all year and I believe in it.”

The NIU defense will have to mark junior forward Keum Sung Kim. A two-time First-Team All-Horizon League selection, the 5’8″ Kim is creative on the ball and scored six goals in 2005.

Don’t be fooled that Kim has only one goal this year. The Arlington Heights native tallied a Horizon League-best nine assists.

“He’s a provider; very good at taking people one-on-one and beating them, and finding the open man,” Simmons said in referenece to Kim. “Every team in the country wants a guy like that.”

A win would set up a second round prime time night match at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at No. 7 seed Indiana. The Hoosiers are seven-time men’s College Cup winners, took home the Big 10 title this year and are ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes and No. 6 in the nation.