Three seniors on the NIU men’s soccer team remain from the 11 that came in with the 2002 freshman class.

They’ve seen three and four-win seasons, a new coach and athletics director, a 12-win season, a No. 22 national ranking, and a 5-1 loss Friday to Akron, the No. 1 team in the nation.

Steve Goletz, Brendon Parrish and Eric O’Reilly are survivors. Last season’s junior college transfers Paul Gabel and Chris Brown joined them in celebrating Senior Day Sunday at Huskie Soccer Field before NIU beat No. 20 Buffalo 1-0.

“It’s been a tremendous transition for them,” NIU coach Steve Simmons said. “They could’ve easily checked out [when I came here in 2003].”

Goletz has been a mainstay at goalkeeper for NIU since his freshman year. Starting 10 of 18 games in 2002, Goletz stepped in for former goalie Rasih Pala, who was moved to forward to boost the offense.

“Rasih did a great job of taking me under his wing,” Goletz said. “The endless hours [assistant coach Ian] Clerihew puts in watching tape has really helped. I attribute a lot of my success to the coaches.”

Goletz received a medical redshirt last season, but will not return to the Huskies next fall for his fifth year of eligibility, as he plans on student teaching.

This year Goletz is No. 4 in the nation with a .884 save percentage and No. 5 in goals-against-average (.408). The Downers Grove native has eight shutouts this fall and recorded seven in a row as NIU went 6-0-1 from Sept. 21 to Oct. 14 while not allowing a goal for 736 minutes and 31 seconds.

Part of that defense are Geneva natives O’Reilly and Scotland native Gabel. The two aided in NIU allowing 19 goals last fall, the lowest total by a Huskie squad since 1989.

“It’s all started with the fitness test coach Simmons put us through,” O’Reilly said. “There’s nothing worse. But when you get through it there’s nothing in the game that’s hard.”

Representing the offense for the seniors is Parrish. The forward/midfielder scored his first goal for NIU 13 seconds into the second half of the first game of his collegiate career.

“It’s been tough playing different positions,” Parrish said. “You have to work your butt off at forward for coach. But it’s been a challenge, and well worth it.”