DeKALB — Men’s soccer released its schedule Monday for the 2021 season. The program usually plays in the fall, but was one of the several Mid-American Conference sports moved to play in the spring.

The season features a 14-match round-robin styled MAC schedule, according to a Monday NIU Athletics news release. The schedule also includes one exhibition match at Butler University Saturday and four non-conference games starting Feb. 7 at Marquette University.

The next two non-conference games will be held at the Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two on Feb. 14 and Feb. 17, facing Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University respectively. The final non-conference match will be held Feb. 26 in DeKalb at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex, where the Huskies will face Chicago State University.

MAC play begins on the road for the Huskies March 6 at West Virginia University. NIU will open MAC play at home March 14, the first of a three-match homestand. All three matches will be held at either the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex or the Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two depending on field conditions. 

NIU closes its home season April 11 against West Virginia, and ends its season April 18 at Bowling Green State University.