DeKALB | After two straight losses to Northwestern and DePaul, the NIU women’s soccer team has ended its non-conference schedule and will get a clean slate with the start of MAC play this weekend.

NIU (1-4-2) begins with four consecutive road matches, starting with Bowling Green (3-5-0) at 3 p.m. today in Bowling Green, Ohio.

“It’s a challenge to be on the road a lot but it is also a positive thing,” said head coach Marci Miller. “We can get away from social distractions, monitor our athletes to make sure they eat healthy and sleep the right way.”

BG has been the team to beat the past two years, with a combined 24-19-4 record the past two seasons. And unfortunately for NIU, wins have been hard to come by against the Falcons. In the 2004 season, the Huskies lost 2-1 and in 2005 they fell 3-1.

“The Rockets have won the MAC two years in a row,” Miller said. “I feel we are very well prepared and we have had hard non-conference competition. I am excited and it should be a good challenge.”

Following the BG game, the Huskies will travel to Toledo, Ohio to take on the Rockets (1-5-2) at noon Sunday.

Miller said Toledo is a physical and aggressive team, but so are the Huskies. With similar styles of play, Miller is expecting a very close match to end the weekend.

With a clean slate and their non-conference schedule behind them, the Huskies can now focus on their main goal: making the MAC tournament.

Jenn Novielli is a Sports Reporter for the Northern Star.