The NIU men’s soccer team couldn’t have picked a better time for a four-game road trip.

At 7 p.m. today the Huskies (5-2-1) will play at Wisconsin (4-4).

The Huskies have compiled a 3-0-1 road record this season, outscoring their opponents 6-3.

“Wisconsin is coming off a two-loss West Coast trip,” NIU assistant coach Ian Clerihew said. “We have to match the intensity they bring because they’ll be bringing it at a Big Ten level.”

NIU won at No. 26 St. Louis Saturday and will finish its road schedule against Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green before hosting Loyola-Chicago.

“We need to bring that anger we had at St. Louis,” junior Jose Alvarado said. “We have to make sure we do what we need to do in warm-ups to get psyched for [Wisconsin].”

NIU has two straight wins despite the absence of Curt Zastrow, who was a freshman All-American last year.

The sophomore has missed the Huskies’ last two games with an ankle sprain. The North Freedom, Wis., native led NIU with eight goals last season.

“The team has responded well in Curt’s absence,” Clerihew said. “It bodes very well for the future of this team.”

Meanwhile, the Huskies might be the favorite heading into their game against Wisconsin after beating them 1-0 at Huskie Soccer Field last fall. NIU has also shut out its last two opponents, winning both games 1-0.

“Having back-to-back shutouts is great,” NIU coach Steve Simmons said. “But the key is staying focused and sustaining a high level of play, and that’s exactly what we’ll need to do in order to battle Wisconsin.”

ZIPPING ALONG

The Akron men’s soccer team is off to an 8-0 start this season.

The Zips have vaulted their way into all four national collegiate soccer polls.

Soccer America has them at No. 4, www.collegesoccernews.com and Soccer Times have them at No. 5. The Zips were No. 7 in last week’s NSCAA/Adidas rankings.

IN ADDITION

On Friday the MAC announced that Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, also known as IPFW, has joined the MAC in men’s soccer, effective immediately.

Simmons had acknowledged the MAC had been looking to add IPFW before the season started.

After last season, the MAC lost Kentucky and Marshall to Conference USA. With only five teams remaining – NIU, Akron, Buffalo, Western Michigan and Bowling Green – the MAC was scrambling to find another member.

“This agreement makes a great deal of sense for the MAC,” MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst said. “It builds upon our existing relationship with IPFW.”

IPFW’s men’s tennis team is the school’s only other MAC-affiliated squad.

Meanwhile, the NCAA granted the MAC a two-year deal that allows it to automatically send its champion to the NCAA Tournament. After that the MAC will only be able to place a team through an at-large bid.