Dreams have been made and goals set as the NIU women’s soccer team begins the regular season with its first home game at 5 p.m. today against Western Illinois.

Last year’s squad finished with a 3-15-1 record, and everyone on the team wants more than that, including coach Frank Horvat.

“We need to be shooting for a significant improvement over last year,” Horvat said, going into his 12th season at NIU.

To improve last year’s team, it will need to find more scoring. Last year’s top two point leaders, Denise Papke and Katie Klaas, graduated.

Horvat expects junior midfielder Christie Ehrhardt, sophomore forward Elaine Eliadis and senior defenseman Jamie Figura all to take their offensive game up a notch this year. Combined, the three scored four goals and had two assists last year.

“Elaine has a big history of big goals and big games,” Horvat said.

Last season, the Huskies averaged .84 goals per game, while giving up 2.42 goals per game. They were also shut out eight times and only scored two or more goals four times.

“I think everyone has the ability to step up and play harder than every single player last year,” Ehrhardt said.

Horvat wants his team to work on three things: give up fewer goals, score more and outwork their opponents.

“The thing we’re going for is that we outwork [our opponents],” Horvat said. “And to be known for ‘God I don’t want to play them.’”

Freshman midfielder Beth Matus will challenge returning players for minutes, Horvat said. The versatile freshman from Rockford can also play outside and defense.

With NIU not in the top six of the MAC preseason rankings, Horvat knows some teams will underestimate his squad. He hopes his opponents take NIU lightly.

“The MAC is very balanced,” Horvat said. “Anyone can win any game.”

This season the Huskies will try to outwork everyone in hopes to get back into the MAC tournament, which they last saw in 1999.

“We need to work hard and compete,” Horvat said. “We need to be stepping on the field and looking to leave it all out there.”