All season you have been hearing about how the NIU soccer team will be coming around and playing together as a team.

So far we have not seen it happen. Every time it seemed the Huskies (1-4-1) would be coming out of hibernation they were put back to sleep.

Granted they have been playing some excellent teams, but their biggest offensive output of the year, thus far, has been two goals, and they have been shut out three times. Today could be the day of awakening for NIU.

At 4 p.m. the Huskies take on the Flames of the University of Illinois-Chicago at the Huskie Practice Field.

The Flames could be the remedy the Huskies have been looking for. They are 0-6-0 for the year and have been shut out three times already.

The entire NIU squad is looking forward to the upcoming week as the Huskies have three home games in eight days, starting today.

UIC has had its problems this season. After a loss on opening day, in which the Flames scored six goals, they have scored only four times since.

In their three shutouts this season, they were beaten by a combined score of 16-0. Overall this year they have given up 29 goals compared to the Huskies’ defensive total of 17.

Both teams have had trouble scoring with a total of 15 goals combined; however, if the Huskies can click together and play up to their potential, look out for an offensive onslaught.

Last year’s returning scoring leader Andy Lane and freshman sensation Nathan Mitchell have both been shut out thus far.

Only three Huskies have gotten into the scoring column this season, and the rest of the team is getting hungry to show everybody what they can do. They want to prey on one of the three goalkeepers UIC has been using this year, who have a combined goals against average of 4.83.

Yes, things look bright for the Huskies today. They have to snap out of their slump sometime, and now they are given an opportunity to do so. They are ready to strike, opening the Mid-Continent Conference season on the right foot.

In addition to being the first league game of the year, SportsChannel Chicago will also be on hand to telecast the game, which can be seen on a taped-delay basis this Sunday at noon.