With the return of senior midfielder Jane Mucci this spring, the NIU women’s soccer team has taken a giant step toward returning to the top of the Mid-American Conference.

Coach Frank Horvat notes that it will take more than a healthy Mucci to produce wins, but her return already has made a difference during NIU’s spring season.

“I think she has a big impact,” NIU midfielder Denise Papke said. “I even noticed it when she started practicing. We had a better flow.”

Mucci sat out the 2000 season because of back pain and received a medical red-shirt, but has started practicing with the team this spring. A skilled passer, Mucci, along with incoming freshman Katie Kieffer, should provide NIU more options offensively this fall.

Her ball-distributing abilities could open up the middle for finishers such as Katie Klaas and Jill Heikkila. Mucci led NIU in scoring as a junior two seasons ago.

The Huskies displayed their offensive power Saturday in a 4-1 win over the University of Chicago and a 7-1 victory over Elmhurst College. Those games saw strong performances from leading scorers Klaas (6 goals, 7 assists) and Becca Bleyer (6 goals, 5 assists). Papke, midfielder Anne Roman, Klaas and Bleyer also scored during Saturday’s contests.

“It helps having Jane back,” Horvat said. “[She has] a lot of experience. You have a very skillful player. That is a plus. She does make a difference, but she’s not the answer to everything.”

Specifically, NIU needs an answer to its defensive struggles. Horvat said mental lapses contributed greatly to a program-worst 77 goals given up last fall. Opponents outscored the Huskies 77-22, and NIU went a disappointing 4-14-1.

“We’re looking to play away from pressure, instead of into pressure,” Horvat said. “We’re accomplishing those things. Are we doing them to the point where we can win the MAC yet? No. But that’s the goal.”

Still, almost the entire team comes back next fall, with the only loss being senior defender Beth Johnson. NIU returns two goalkeepers, Katy Boll and Akiko Iwabuchi. Boll impressed the NIU coaching staff with her athleticism last fall and earned five starts last season. Iwabuchi also displayed her versatility when she scored a goal against Elmhurst on Saturday.

The players have noticed improvements in the team’s attitude as the Huskies anxiously await 2001.

“I think everyone’s pretty confident,” Mucci said. “We’re ready to get going.”