James Nokes: So Sean, NIU’s football team gets all the publicity on campus, but I say men’s soccer brings the pain as the best “football” team at NIU.

Sean Connor: Best futbol team, maybe. And record-wise, you have an argument. Most entertaining? I don’t know.

JN: Entertaining? Football has given me exactly 1,237 gray hairs with their weeping willow defense. That’s not entertaining.

SC: Who needs defense when you have the best running back in the nation in Garrett Wolfe?

JN: Defense wins championships. NIU soccer is No. 6 in the nation in shutout percentage. At least its defensive backs understand coverage.

SC: Agreed. Football’s defensive backs weren’t looking good even before the injuries. But why should I stay in DeKalb Saturday for men’s soccer when I can drive to Kalamazoo to watch Wolfe and company?

JN: Because men’s soccer isn’t one dimensional. Drive four hours to watch one player? Not me. I’ll catch ESPN highlights.

I have a five-minute ride to a soccer game where I’ll see a team that has the total package.

SC: Soccer is playing No. 22 Akron, who was No. 1 last year. But Wolfe is facing the No. 1 rushing defense in the MAC Saturday. Isn’t that a statement game for him?

JN: Heck yes. WMU is No. 20 in the nation in total defense. Ohio State got tore up by Wolfe and they’re No. 38.

But it’s the consistently stingy defense and opportunistic offense that make soccer more enticing.

SC: And who is this Marcus McCarty guy I keep hearing about?

JN: The soccer version of Wolfe. Eighteen points, seven goals and two MAC Player of the Week awards. Plus, he isn’t alone. He has a solid supporting cast.

Besides Wolfe, who does anybody want to see on the NIU offense?

SC: Well, if Britt Davis ever got the ball… Anyway, you couldn’t be more right about McCarty. He leads the MAC in both of those stats. So, is this the soccer team’s year?

JN: It could be. McCarty, Justin McGrane, Kevin Woerner, Chris VanDuerm and newcomer Luis De La Cerda can really control the pitch. Akron lost in the elite eight to eventual 2005 champ Maryland. How could you miss out on the biggest game in the history of NIU men’s soccer?

SC: If I wasn’t obligated to travel to WMU and cover the football game, I’d be at Huskie Soccer Field on Saturday. What else is there to do in DeKalb during the daytime on Saturday anyway?

JN: Thank you. You just validated my thesis.

James Nokes and Sean Connor are Sports Reporters for the Northern Star.