The numbers don’t add up for the NIU men’s soccer team as it travels to Akron, Ohio, this weekend to take part in the Mid-American Conference championship tournament.

As the No. 7 seed, the Huskies take on host and No. 2 seed Akron tonight at 7 p.m. in a quarterfinal match at Lee Jackson Field. The Huskies bring a 4-11-0 record into tonight’s match, the Zips an 8-5-1 mark.

Adding to that, the Zips dealt the Huskies perhaps their most crushing loss of the season Oct. 5 when they scored two goals in the final seven minutes to steal a 3-2 victory.

Despite the odds stacked up against his team, coach Willy Roy remains upbeat.

“If you look at things realistically, they’re the No. 2 seed with the home field advantage, things are really going their way,” said Roy, of Akron. “But we have nothing to lose. This is a team that is very excited, and I think we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”

Tonight’s match could be the last as part of NIU for the two seniors on the Huskies’ roster, Phil Diehl and Rob Berkley. Diehl has contributed a goal and an assist this season, while Berkley assisted on an Andrew Conti goal in a 2-1 victory over DePaul Sept. 18.

“This team has responded, has fought very hard,” said Roy. “I’m so proud of this outfit, especially character-wise. I want them to have a little success, and winning against Akron would go a long way toward that, because it’s been a very, very tough season.

“I think it would be a nice send-off for this team for next season. We only lose two seniors so we have the majority coming back.”

Junior Peter Agrimson leads the Huskies with four goals and also is tied for the lead in assists, as he and Bruce Conrad have two apiece.

If the Huskies win tonight, on Sunday they will play the winner of this afternoon’s quarterfinal pitting sixth-seeded Western Michigan University and third-seeded Marshall.

“We know we’re capable of beating anybody, we just need to have a ball maybe bounce our way,” said Roy. “We just need to put all the eggs in our basket and do what we need to do.”