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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Senior Felix Krammer looks at his shot as he walks back to his bag. NIU men's golf finished in last place Monday at the Island Resort Intercollegiate. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Huskies finish 12th at Island Resort Intercollegiate

By Eddie Miller, Assistant Sports Editor | September 2, 2024

NIU men’s golf wrapped up its first tournament of the season, finishing 12th out of 12 teams at the Island Resort Intercollegiate. In his collegiate debut, freshman Beau Petersen led the pack with a 38th place finish.  “He showed patience; he...

Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton (2) makes a pass during NIU's 54-15 victory over Western Illinois University on Saturday. Hampton was named the Mid-American Conference Football Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday after throwing for 328 yards and five touchdowns in his first start since Oct. 8, 2022. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Ethan Hampton earns first MAC weekly honor

By Northern Star Sports Staff | September 2, 2024

DeKALB – After posting a record-setting performance in his first win as a starter, redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Hampton has earned his first-career Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor, the league office announced Monday. Hampton...

Senior defender Ben Suddeth (24) battles for possession with University of Wisconsin-Green Bay junior forward Chris Album (9) Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. NIU men's soccer lost 2-1 to Green Bay, losing for the second game in a row. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Huskies drop second straight after falling to Green Bay

By Eddie Miller, Assistant Sports Editor | September 1, 2024

DeKALB – NIU men’s soccer (1-3) faced off against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix (2-2), coming up short 2-1.  NIU men’s soccer head coach Ryan Swan shared his thoughts about the team’s performance.  “I don’t think anyone...

Redshirt-senior wide receiver Trayvon Rudolph (3) is lifted up in celebration after a touchdown Saturday at Huskie Stadium. Rudolph scored two touchdowns in the first half as NIU defeated Western Illinois University 54-15. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU football pummels Western Illinois in Hampton’s stellar debut

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 31, 2024

DeKALB – NIU football produced one of the best offensive performances in school history Saturday in a 54-15 beatdown of the Western Illinois University Leathernecks at Huskie Stadium, all while led by its newly-named starting quarterback. NIU head...

Senior forward Zachariah Thomas (7) dribbles the ball around a Chicago State University defender on Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. NIU men's soccer lost 5-1 Thursday to the University of Memphis. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Men’s soccer trampled 5-1 in Memphis

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | August 29, 2024

NIU men’s soccer (1-2) was trounced by the University of Memphis Tigers (1-2) in a 5-1 defeat, moving to 1-2 on the season.  NIU men’s soccer head coach Ryan Swan expressed his disappointment in the loss. “It was pretty awful,” Swan said....

NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock speaks to the media during a press conference Tuesday in the McCareins Auditorium inside the Yordon Center. Hammock will lead the Huskies against Western Illinois University on Saturday in NIU’s season opener at Huskie Stadium. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU football set to clash with Western Illinois in 2024 opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 29, 2024

DeKALB – After an offseason of movements and preparation, college football returns to DeKalb this weekend as NIU plays host to an in-state foe to kick off the 2024 campaign. NIU and Western Illinois University will battle Saturday at Huskie Stadium...

Then-junior Ben Sluzas eyes his shot during his follow-through. Sluzas, who shot a 72.12 average last season, is the top scorer returning for NIU men's golf in fall 2024. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Sluzas, Krammer to lead Huskies going into Fall 2024 season

By Eddie Miller, Assistant Sports Editor | August 27, 2024

NIU men’s golf enters the Fall 2024 season competing in six events beginning Sunday at the Island Resort Intercollegiate. The Huskies finished last season with their best placement, tying for third place at the 2024 MAC Championship.  The Huskies...

NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock speaks to his players after the Huskies’ annual spring showcase on April 27. NIU enters the 2024 season as a dark-horse contender for the Mid-American Conference championship after tying for third in the league’s preseason coaches poll. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Football eyes title contention with senior-heavy roster

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 26, 2024

DeKALB – When it comes to building a program, NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock approaches his team as one would the caretaking of a Chinese bamboo tree. The subject of an often-cited parable about patience and development, the Chinese bamboo...

Senior forward Kevin Kelly (10) approaches the ball Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Men's and women's soccer have added 22 new student-athletes for the 2024 season as the Huskies look to expand on conference championship tournament appearances in 2023. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

New faces lead charge for men’s and women’s soccer

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | August 26, 2024

Successful seasons for both NIU men’s and women’s soccer, with trips to the MVC and MAC championship tournaments last season, respectively, leave both teams with expectations for improvement.  While the men’s team advanced further in the MVC...

Junior forward Taylor Davis winds up a kick on Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. NIU men's soccer defeated Chicago State University 4-2 in the Huskies' 2024 home opener. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Men’s soccer takes home opener 4-2

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | August 25, 2024

With four Huskies scoring their first goal in a NIU uniform, NIU men’s soccer bounced back from a 1-0 defeat in the season opener with a 4-2 win over the Chicago State University Cougars.  NIU men’s soccer head coach Ryan Swan touched on the difference...

A graphic displays photos of NIU student-athletes from football, volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer. Sports Editor Lucas Didier shares his most important focus areas for each of NIU's fall sports teams. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

COLUMN: How the Huskies can excel in fall 2024

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | August 25, 2024

Victories in the Camellia Bowl and the opening round of the MVC Tournament contributed to a fairly successful Fall 2023 season for NIU, but there is plenty of room for the Huskies to surpass themselves in 2024. Here’s how NIU can step up its game...

Freshman catcher Cooper Cohn (4) beats a throw to first base on May 3 at Ralph McKinzie Field at Walt and Janice Owens Park. NIU baseball lost the series finale against Ball State University by a score of 13-10 on Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies out-slugged by Ball State, drop series finale

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | May 5, 2024

DeKALB – NIU baseball lost a slugfest against Ball State University, as the Cardinals slugged four home runs, losing by a score of 13-10.  EARLY DEFICIT The Huskies starting pitcher for the day, senior pitcher Dominic Hann, totaled three innings...