Determined to turn their young season around, head coach Willy Roy and the NIU men’s soccer team are going into this weekend’s Eastern Illinois University Panther Invitational very loose and very optimistic.

“There’s no pressure going into this weekend,” said Roy.

The Huskies (1-4-1) have fallen on hard times lately, losing their last four games.

First up for NIU will be the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University today at noon. SMU is currently ranked as one of the top ten men’s soccer teams in the nation.

If playing the Mustangs poses a problem to the Huskies, Roy isn’t the least bit worried. In fact, he likes the idea.

“It’ll be good to play a good team like SMU. There will be no pressure on the guys so they can play some good soccer. We’ll do fine. As long as they give 100 percent, that’s all I ask,” said Roy.

After facing the Mustangs, the Huskies will play the Kangaroos of Missouri-Kansas City on Sunday at noon.

Although they are trying to break out of a four-game skid, Roy doesn’t think that there are any major problems with the team.

“We have to start scoring goals, and we have to start when the game starts, not when we feel we have to. We’ve just got to do it,” said Roy.

If the Huskies can put some goals on the scoreboard, it will be up to the defense and freshman goalie Brad Nordeng to put the Huskies over the top.

Going into the Panther Invitational loose and relaxed will hopefully result in a NIU soccer team that will be cranked up for the month of October which is loaded with conference matchups.

“Our guys have a lot of guts,” said Roy. “They never give up and they always fight back. We just have to show a little more finesse.”