Next year at this time, NIU will feature women’s soccer as an intercollegiate sport. For now, though, the ladies who want to be on that first Huskie team are gearing up for their club season.

The women finished the spring season by the winning the championship of their own Huskie Invitational. In its debut season as a club sport, NIU finished 7-1-1.

Getting started less than a year ago, the club attracted 23 NIU students. Led by Angie Raiff and Kady Kraus, the Huskies are ready for another successful season, which kicks off Saturday at the University of Chicago.

The new season features a total of 13 games, four of them at the soccer practice field behind the Stevenson South residence hall. Returning as coaches for NIU will be Vlada Jevremovic and John Lechner.

The home games are Sept. 12 against Eastern Illinois University (noon), Sept. 20 versus DePaul University (noon), Oct. 3 against Illinois State University (11 a.m.) and Oct. 17 versus the University of Iowa (noon).

Highlights of the road portion of the schedule include a trip to Iowa on Sept. 19 and two games on Sept. 26 in Champaign versus the University of Illinois and Purdue University.

Any women who would like to play on this year’s team can attend the open practices, which are held from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Thursday at the practice field.