For the fifth year in a row, the NIU men’s soccer team lost in the first round of the MAC tournament.

NIU fell 2-1 Friday to Buffalo at the Western Michigan University Soccer Complex.

The Huskies finished the season with a 12-7 mark, the fourth best record in school history. The last time the Huskies won 12 games was in 1999 when the team lost in the MAC championship game to Kentucky -which is only in the MAC for men’s soccer.

“We had a couple chances early on and we didn’t cash in,” NIU coach Steve Simmons said. “I don’t think we came out flat, but Buffalo was simply a little more crisp in what they did.”

The first goal of the game came from Buffalo’s Lee Catchpole, who put a penalty kick past NIU goalkeeper Steve Goletz at the 9:14 mark.

This was after NIU freshman Curt Zastrow – the team leader for goals – had his shot at an open net denied when a Buffalo defender dove in front of the net for a team save.

The Huskies tied the game at 1 before the half. Senior Bernhard Hagevik’s header off sophomore Jose Alvarado’s free kick found the foot of senior Bruce Conrad. The goal came at the 20:26 mark and was Conrad’s fourth of the year.

“These guys are hurting,” Simmons said. “It shows the heart and character this team has. They did not want it to end this way.”

The Huskies demise came with 19:40 remaining when Goletz charged a ball but came up short. Catchpole beat Goletz to the ball and popped it over his head for Buffalo’s second goal of the game.

NIU lost three of its last four games to end the season. Prior to this, the Huskies had won 10 of 11 games dating back to Sept. 12. Their lone loss during that period was to Marshall on Oct. 3.

“We improved this year, but that wasn’t our goal,” Simmons said. “Our goal will continue to be winning championships and becoming a top-25 program in the nation. We took steps towards that goal this season, but our journey isn’t over.”

NIU was ranked No. 9 in the Midwest region heading into the game. The team had been ranked as high as No. 7 during the season.