DeKALB – The Huskies are in for a landmark weekend of the 2022 sports season as a big-time matchup and the beginning of MACtion reserve spots on the weekend slate.

Football heads to the University of Kentucky for a battle against a nationally-ranked opponent. Volleyball and men’s soccer open league play while women’s soccer looks to avenge its loss in their conference opener. Finally, softball begins its fall ball schedule and men’s golf takes its talents to New Mexico for a two-day tournament.

Men’s Soccer

Friday, Sept. 23: at Western Michigan University | 4 p.m.

Kalamazoo, Mich. / WMU Soccer Complex

Watch: Bronco All-Access | Live Stats: StatBroadcast

The reigning Mid-American Conference champion men’s soccer team begins an important stretch of their season as they begin league play. NIU will head to Western Michigan University to play the Broncos for the first of the teams’ pair of matchups this year. The Huskies finished the non-conference slate with a 3-2-2 record. The match is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Friday.

Volleyball

Friday, Sept. 23: vs. University of Akron | 6 p.m.

Watch: NIU All-Access | Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports

DeKalb, Ill. / Victor E. Court

Saturday, Sept. 24: vs. University of Akron | 2 p.m.

Watch: NIU All-Access | Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports

DeKalb, Ill. / Victor E. Court

Volleyball opens the conference portion of its schedule with a pair of home matches against the Akron Zips. Head coach Ray Gooden’s squad heads into league play boasting a 7-3 record. The Huskies’ first outing against the Zips is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.

Football

Saturday, Sept. 24: at University of Kentucky | 6 p.m.

Watch: ESPN2 | Live Stats: StatBroadcast

Lexington, Ky. / Kroger Field

NIU Football heads to the Bluegrass State for arguably the most high-profile matchup of the season as the Huskies take on the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats on the road. The 1-2 Huskies go into the game fresh off a 38-28 loss that saw Vanderbilt University score 24 unanswered points. To pull out a win, NIU will be tasked with bringing down an undefeated Wildcats team led by senior quarterback Will Levis and company.

Women’s Soccer

Sunday, Sept. 25: at University of Toledo | 12 p.m.

Watch: ESPN3 | Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports

Toledo, Ohio / Paul Hotmer Field

NIU women’s soccer is set to play its second conference matchup of 2022 as they travel to challenge the Toledo Rockets. The Huskies hold a 3-3-2 overall record after dropping its conference opener at home against the Western Michigan Broncos on Thursday. Toledo sits at 1-4-3 on their season and also fresh off a conference loss to Bowling Green State University. The game begins at noon Sunday.

Softball

Friday, Sept. 23: vs. Rock Valley College | 3:30 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Mary M. Bell Field

Friday, Sept. 23: vs. DePaul University | 5:45 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Mary M. Bell Field

Saturday, Sept. 24: vs. Rock Valley College | 11 a.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Mary M. Bell Field

Saturday, Sept. 24: vs. Loyola University Chicago | 3:30 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Mary M. Bell Field

Sunday, Sept. 25: vs. Bradley University | Noon

DeKalb, Ill. / Mary M. Bell Field

Sunday: Sept. 25: vs. Bradley University | 2 p.m.

DeKalb, Ill. / Mary M. Bell Field

Softball knocks out six of the eight games of its fall ball schedule this weekend. NIU hosts four teams over three days, playing two games each day Friday through Sunday. The Huskies finished their spring campaign with a 17-28 record, including a 4-11 record at home. The action will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Admission to all fall games will be free.

Men’s Golf

Friday, Sept. 23 – Saturday, Sept. 24: William H. Tucker Intercollegiate

Live Results: GolfStat

Albuquerque, N.M. / The Championship Course at UNM

Head coach John Carlson and the NIU men’s golf team set off to the Southwest for an outing at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate hosted by the University of New Mexico. It will be NIU’s second event of the season following a 12th place finish at the Badger Invitational on Sept. 11-13. The first round will tee off at 8:30 a.m. CT.

Hockey

Friday, Sept. 23: vs. DePaul University | 7:30 p.m.

West Dundee, Ill. / Canlan Ice Sports

Saturday, Sept. 24: at DePaul University | 4 p.m.

Chicago, Ill. / Johnny’s Ice House West

NIU’s Division I hockey program is set to play home-and-home against the DePaul University Blue Devils. The Huskies enter competition after sustaining back-to-back losses against John Carroll University in last weekend’s season-opening series. Meanwhile, DePaul is undefeated after the first weekend after wins over Bradley. Friday’s game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday in West Dundee and Saturday’s game is hosted by DePaul at 4 p.m. in Chicago.