Though the NIU men’s soccer team has two wins this season, both have come on the road. Traveling to Buffalo today for a 7 p.m. showdown will be the perfect opportunity for the Huskies to snap a six-game losing streak.

In the Huskies’ last win against Western Illinois, assistant coach Karsten Roy said, “We didn’t dive in and make mistakes, and the guys stayed focused very well.”

This is exactly what the Huskies need to do because defeating Buffalo (5-5-1, 2-1-0) will be no easy task. The Bulls currently are third in the MAC and NIU (2-11-0, 0-2-0) resides in last.

NIU is looking to avoid its first seven-game losing streak since 1986, the final year before current head coach Willy Roy took over.

Leading the way for the Bulls are seniors Geoff Thompson and Mike Peplinski, leading the team with 10 and nine points, respectively.

It is not just the Buffalo offense the Huskies will have to worry about.

Buffalo currently is tied with Kentucky for first in fewest goals allowed, holding opponents to a mere 14 scores on the season. Bulls’ goalkeeper Brian Wozniak also has recorded 44 saves this year along with two shutouts.

Offensively, NIU should look no further than senior Peter Agrimson. The 6-foot midfielder-defender has scored two of the Huskies’ three goals during the losing streak and leads the team with four points.

“He is a senior and takes charge, and that is always a positive for us,” Willy Roy said.

The Huskies then will have 40 hours to get back home and recooperate for a noon game against Western Michigan on Sunday at Huskie Soccer Field.

This will be NIU’s last chance to collect a home victory and keep alive a streak that dates all the way back to 1965, the last year the Huskies failed to win a home game.

NIU has an excellent chance at beating WMU. The Broncos, outside of Kentucky, who hasn’t played a game in the MAC yet, are the only other team that hasn’t won a game in the MAC besides the Huskies.

The Broncos’ 5-foot-7 junior forward Scott Duhl will be the one to put pressure on Huskie netminder Steve Goletz. Duhl leads WMU with seven points and has put 16 shots on goal this season.

Sunday is also Senior Recognition Day. Rasih Pala, Nick Park and Agrimson will be making their final appearances at Huskie Soccer Field.

All three seniors have been in the men’s soccer program for four years and are the remaining members of the last NIU men’s soccer team to reach the MAC tournament championship match.