The NIU women’s soccer team and coach Frank Horvat look to win their second straight game this weekend after upsetting Western Michigan 4-1 last Friday.

“I think we should take any game as it’s the hardest game and the most important game,” Denise Papke who had two goals in the win said. “So if it’s Miami or Ball State or whoever, we should go out there and play like we did against Western Michigan.”

The Huskies (2-9-1, 2-6 in Mid-American Conference) will play their remaining two road games of the season traveling to Miami (Ohio) on Friday and Ball State on Sunday.

Miami (Ohio) (8-5, 5-2 in MAC) won last year’s MAC tournament and is favored to do so this year. The Redhawks are currently in fourth place in the standings. They defeated the Huskies 4-0 last season. The all-time series is tied at two.

“Miami has the most dangerous front line in our conference, and from game to game probably is as good as the top schools in the country,” Horvat said.

Two Redhawk players Horvat says the team should be concerned about are Andrea Cunningham who has 11 goals and 24 points this season and Danielle Berkemeier who has eight goals and 21 points.

Ball State currently holds the eighth and final playoff spot and is four points ahead of the Huskies in the standings. The Huskies are 1-0-1 in the all-time series.

“(Ball State) is a team that is much improved,” Horvat said. “I think they’re very good as well from the front six forwards. I think their back four are suspect and their goalkeeping is questionable.”

Jane Mucci and Ilene Weinstein have injuries, back and knee respectively, and are listed as questionable. Also injured are Denise Papke (knee), Becca Bleyer (knee), Kerry Walker (knee) and Courtney Lewis (shoulder). These four are expected to play.

MAC Tournament Chances

Last week’s win keeps the Huskies’ playoff hopes alive. They are currently 12th in the standings and still can assure themselves a spot in the MAC tournament.

Since the tournament expanded to eight teams in 1998, the lowest point total a qualifying team had was 10 by Western Michigan in ‘98. Kent State qualified in 1999 with a point total of 15. Last season, Toledo qualified with 13. The Huskies currently have six points with four MAC games left. Wins are worth three points in the standings.

“The best thing to do is win them all,” Horvat said. “I feel if we can win all four of our games, that will give us 18 points and should put us in.”