It’s that time of year again and the NIU soccer team is gearing up for another season. They will be trying to rebound from a disappointing 6-9-2 season, which they would be very happy to forget.

Although they started out losing seven of their first nine games, they didn’t give up and throw in the towel.

Instead, they bounced back and finished the season by winning five out of their last eight games. Included in this string of success was a 2-1 win over NCAA qualifier Wisconsin and wins over Mid-Continent Conference opponents Western Illinois University, Valparaiso, and Wright State.

This left them with a fourth place finish in the conference.

The team’s defense had a lot to do with that much needed turnaround in the second half of the season. They only allowed nine goals in the last eight games after giving up 24 goals in the first nine games.

The defense will be returning three starters from last year, including senior Mike Defort, who scored three goals from the back, junior Ken Hoffman, and all Mid-Continent Conference selection, Jay Konrad. Konrad will be expected to anchor the defense and provide leadership for the rest of the team.

Others that are expected to contribute in the defensive third of the field are sophomores Brian Reinheimer, and Chris Trepina, who both lettered last season. Freshman Brian Bludgen, an Illinois high school all-state selection, P.J. Dicaro and 1992 redshirt Ed Walenga should also provide a spark.

In the midfield the Huskies will need someone to step up and take the place of four-year letterman Todd Moore who graduated last year. Likely candidates to fill his shoes are juniors Derek Niepomnik, who scored two goals and added two assists last season, Maitri Aung-Thwin, and Ian Oshrow.

Others that are looking to land a starting job in the midfield are sophomore Charles Martell who saw action in 15 matches last season, senior George Walrath, medical redshirt Todd Vanecko, freshman Brian Downs, and Sigurd Slaastad, a transfer from the University of Oslo.

The offense will attempt to do what they had problems doing last season, which is score. The players that will be expected to produce in that department are juniors Tim Prerost, Andy Lane, and sophomore Nathan Mitchell who each managed to score three goals apiece last season.

Freshman Rob Grabko, and sophomore Omar Espinoza, a red shirt in 1992 are expected to contribute as much as necessary.

The Huskies will need one of the three freshman competing for the goalie position to step up and play above their ability to keep the team in the thick of things. The guys going for the job are Brian Hecht, Brad Nordeng, and Patrick Sullivan. “We are a little unproven in goal,” head coach Willy Roy conceded.

“This year we don’t have an experienced junior or senior goalie to rely on. The three freshman will be able to compete against each other and improve in the process.”

The Huskies will open their season against conference foe UWGB Sept. 4. They will face some tough competition, as usual in the Mid Continent, but will also take on some of the nation’s elite collegiate squads in Wisconsin, ISU, and Creighton University.

Coach Roy would like to finish in the top three in the conference and finish with a winning season overall.