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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Midfielder Eddie Knight (19) dribbles past Aurora's defenders going in for his second goal in the first half on Monday. Knight scored three goals against Aurora leading the Huskies to Victory 7-2. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Huskies best Spartans behind scoring surge

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 4, 2023

DeKALB – Off the foot of NIU junior forward Taisei Arima, off the crossbar, back to Arima and into the net. Huskies, 1-0. A low, left shot slides past the goalie. Huskies, 2-0. Another shot sails into the net. Huskies, 3-0. That was just the...

Senior wide receiver Kacper Rutkiewicz celebrates the overtime touchdown scored by redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi. The Huskies defeated the Boston College Eagles 27-24 Saturday for their first win of the 2023 regular season. (Gaelen Morse | NIU Athletics)

Huskies down Eagles in overtime thriller

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | September 2, 2023

DeKALB – Thanks to a walk-off touchdown from redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi, NIU football (1-0) outlasted the Boston College Eagles (0-1) for a 27-24 win.  After the Huskies raced out to a 14-0 lead, the Eagles exploded for 14 fourth-quarter...

Then-junior midfielder Eddie Knight (right) nagivates the ball against a BGSU defender during Oct, 25th, 2022 match at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Rojek shines, Huskies blanked by Irish

By Adrien De La Peña, Sports Reporter | September 2, 2023

DeKALB – A phenomenal performance from senior goalkeeper Jakub Rojek wasn't enough to push NIU men’s soccer (1-2) past the Notre Dame (2-0-1) Fighting Irish, who defeated the Huskies 1-0 Friday.  Rojek had a total of 10 saves after Notre Dame...

Then-sophomore running back Antario Brown rushes down the left side of the field on a 35-yard touchdown run on Sept. 1, 2022 (Ivan Meza | Northern Star)

Healthier Huskies ready to battle Eagles

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | August 31, 2023

DeKALB – NIU football opens its 2023 season against the Boston College Eagles, the Huskies’ first ACC opponent since their 37-19 loss against Florida State University in 2018.  NEW LOOK EAGLES The Eagles are coming off a 3-9 record last year,...

Then-senior forward Rodahn Evans celebrates with NIU hockey after scoring a goal against Drury University on Jan. 28. The Huskies won the game 4-0. (Photo courtesy NIU hockey)

Hockey preparing to usher in new standard

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | August 31, 2023

DeKALB – With scorching heat in the forecast daily, the frigid ice rink has been as alive as ever. After winning just four games in the 2022-2023 season, NIU hockey is gearing up to enter a new era for the 2023-2024 season.  PICTURE INTO FOCUS The...

Redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi evades Tulsa graduate linebacker Grant Sawyer duing a pass attempt in the first half of September 1st 2022 matchup. Lombardi led the Huskie scoring with three touchdowns through the air.

Complementary football vital to Huskies’ 2023 turnaround

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | August 30, 2023

DeKALB – Coming off a disappointing 3-9 record in 2022, NIU football looks to bounce back this season from its last place finish in the Mid-American Conference West.  “A facet of the game I’m looking to improve upon is our ability to play complimentary...

Sophomore midfielder Angel Rodriguez guides the ball at the NIU Soccer and Track and Field Complex on Aug. . Rodriguez scored the lone goal against University of Memphis. (Photo courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Offense sputters in Huskies’ loss to Memphis

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | August 27, 2023

DeKALB – A lack of offensive opportunities plagued NIU men’s soccer (1-1), contributing to its first loss of the season at the hands of the University of Memphis (2-0) Tigers by a final score of 3-1 Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track and Field Complex.  The...

Junior catcher Colin Summerhill (left) approaches NIU Baseball Head Coach Mike Kunigonis in the dugout during the team's game against Toledo Sunday at Ralph McKinzie Field. The game was Kunigonis' last as a head coach at NIU, after his contract was not renewed and he was relieved from his position. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Kunigonis out as head baseball coach

By Alex Crowe, Assistant Sports Editor | May 8, 2023

DeKALB – NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier announced Sunday that head coach Mike Kunigonis’ contract will not be renewed and has been relieved of coaching duties, effective immediately.  The announcement comes after the...

Huskie junior catcher and outfielder Colin Summerhill dives to third base as Rockets’s sophomore catcher Brayden White (18) catches the ball thrown to him by freshman third baseman Troy Sudbrook (10), completing a double play to get both Summerhill and Demetral. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Rockets rout Huskies on senior day

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | May 7, 2023

DeKALB – NIU baseball (8-38, 4-19 MAC) dropped a senior day slugfest as it closed out its final home series against the University of Toledo (23-24, 11-13 MAC) by a final score of 18-12. NIU honored seven seniors for the finale of baseball’s last...

Then-redshirt senior Cole Tucker walks in the endzone after missing a pass from freshman quarterback Nevan Cremascoli near the end of the first quarter. (Alyssa Queen | Northern Star)

Cole Tucker drafted 4th overall in CFL

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | May 4, 2023

DeKALB – Former NIU football wide receiver Cole Tucker was selected as the fourth overall pick by the Calgary Stampeders at the 2023 Canadian Football League Draft.  Tucker was the first wide receiver chosen in the CFL Draft and is the first Huskie...

NIU junior shortstop Andre Demetral (1) rounds to third base after stealing second base in the bottom of the first inning. Demetral scored off of a hit by junior first baseman Colin Summerhill, earning the Huskies their first run of the game and setting the score 3-1. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Summerhill’s home run helps Huskies snap skid

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | May 3, 2023

DeKALB – NIU baseball (8-35, 4-16 MAC) snapped its 11-game losing streak Wednesday with a 3-2 win over the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin Panthers (20-22, 9-11 Horizon). Powered by a go-ahead home run from junior catcher and outfielder Colin Summerhill,...

Men's head golf coach John Carlson (Left) talks through a shot with then-senior Tommy Dunsire during the first round of the 2021 Saint Mary's Invitational at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. (Wes Sanderson | Northern Star)

NIU men’s golf wins MAC Championship

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | May 2, 2023

DeKALB – NIU men’s golf placed first at the MAC Championship, finishing four strokes ahead of Ball State University. The Huskies’ first place finish at the MAC Championship marked their first win at the tournament since 1985. NIU finished the...