The real season begins today for the NIU men’s soccer team when it begins MAC play at home against the Bowling Green Falcons at 1 p.m.

The Huskies still are searching for their first win at home and will have a good shot against Bowling Green, who holds a 1-8-0 record on the season. NIU will play its next four games at home.

“It’s a new season and everyone in the conference is equal,” senior goalkeeper Rasih Pala said.

Though Pala is tied for second in the MAC in saves with 38, and has posted two consecutive shutouts against the Falcons, he will be using his talents on the offensive end in today’s game, starting at forward.

Freshman Steve Goletz will take over in goal for Pala. Despite limited playing time, Goletz is 10th in the MAC in saves (eight), saves a game (1.6) and goals against average (2.4) in five appearances.

In last season’s game against the Falcons, NIU’s Peter Agrimson scored the Huskies’ lone goal on a penalty kick for the win.

Bowling Green is coming off its first win of the season after a 3-0 victory over Buffalo Sunday.

The Falcons’ junior-transfer Paul Dhaliwal earned MAC Player of the Week honors and leads the team with five points, leaving him tied for ninth in the MAC in points.

The Huskies’ offense needs to start putting more shots on goal as they have 43 on the season.

“We need to get the offense going,” Pala said.

Offensive production could come in the form of Thomas Meiner. Meiner is fifth in the MAC with 17 shots on goal and has one of NIU’s six goals on the year.

Defining the beginning of MAC play as the new season, Pala finished by saying, “A first win would be good.”

NIU will then look to get its second win of the season at home when the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers come to town on Sunday at noon.

The Huskies will face a tough match-up as the Panthers bring a 5-1-1 record into Sunday’s contest.

The teams will compete for the John Lewang Memorial Trophy.

UW-Milwaukee has defeated the Huskies in their last two meetings and holds a 12-8-1 record over NIU since the teams began playing for the trophy.

The trophy is played for in honor of the former NIU soccer coach after he died in an automobile accident before the 1981 season commenced.