The name is Chris VanDuerm, and don’t forget it.

For the third time this season the junior has scored a game-winning goal.

On Wednesday he led the NIU men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Coming off two straight losses, the Huskies (4-2-1) knocked off a UWGB squad that was 4-1 coming in.

“They are off to their best start in a while,” NIU coach Steve Simmons said. “We expected a dog fight, and it’s a credit to their staff.”

Junior Jose Alvarado and sophomore Steve Algozino combined to assist VanDuerm 28:24 into the match.

“It wasn’t a highlight-reel finish by any means,” Simmons said. “[VanDuerm’s] providing the team with consistent energy. When the opponent quits, he goes that extra yard and gets open.”

Last week’s MAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Week, VanDuerm will do nothing more than attribute his knack for winning games to hard work.

“I just want to bring the energy onto the field for us,” the Wheaton-Warrenville South grad said.

The assist was Alvarado’s first on the season. The Elgin native was third in the MAC last season with seven assists.

However, Simmons said this game was just step one for NIU as far as getting over their two losses over the weekend.

“I think this game will come back and be seen as a big win for us at the end of the season,” the third-year coach said. “I told the guys that we weren’t going to win seven in a row. We’re only as good as our last game.”

NIU’s next step will come Saturday against nationally-renowned St. Louis. The Billikins host the Huskies in their home opener, and hold a 9-0-1 all-time advantage against NIU.

SLU is ranked No. 26 by www.Collegesoccernews.com. They’re also No. 8 in the Midwest Region, one of eight regions listed. They last played and beat NIU in 1992.

The Huskies were as high as sixth in the Midwest until losing two in a row.

“To go play in a venue like the one in St. Louis is where we want to be,” Simmons said. “We’re going to see a whole different monster over there.”