Skip to Main Content
Advertisement
 
Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU men's soccer sophomore forward Katai Mukuka (40) gets boxed out by Eastern Illinois University fifth year defender Kento Tani (25) on Tuesday. The Huskies fell to the Panthers by a score of 3-2, their second straight loss. (Alexia Beck | Northern Star)

Late goals fall short against Eastern Illinois

By Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter | September 17, 2025

DeKALB — NIU’s men’s soccer team (3-3-1) suffered their third loss of the season to the Eastern Illinois University Panthers (1-3-1) in a five-goal, 3-2 thriller on Tuesday night. A combination of defensive lapses, solid goalkeeping and lack of...

NIU men’s soccer senior midfielder Jose Gomez (10) battles for the ball during the Huskies’ game against St. Thomas University on Saturday. Gomez led the team with 4 shots in the 1-0 loss. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Huskies shutout by St. Thomas for second loss

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | September 14, 2025

DeKALB — Earning just its second loss of the season, NIU men’s soccer (3-2-1) fell to the St. Thomas University Tommies (3-1-2) in a 1-0 shutout, their first of the season.  “Hugely disappointing obviously, losing the game here at home especially...

NIU men’s soccer junior goalkeeper Atahan Arslan (1) makes a save during the Huskies’ game against Western Illinois University on Aug. 28. Sports Editor Kalin Schaefer shares her three biggest takeaways from NIU’s 3-1-1 start to the season. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

SCHAEFER: 3 takeaways from men’s soccer’s strong start to the season

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | September 11, 2025

From a team that finished the season with just three wins last season, to starting 2025 with a 3-1-1 record, NIU men’s soccer has had a vastly different start to the season than they did in 2024.  Last season, the Huskies went 1-4 in their first...

NIU men’s soccer redshirt sophomore defender Tomasz Slawek (17) goes after the ball during the Huskies’ match against Western Illinois University on Aug. 28. NIU earned its third win of the season with a 2-1 defeat of Indiana University Indianapolis. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Men’s soccer bounces back with road win over IU Indy

By Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter | September 10, 2025

Hoping to bounce back after a close loss to then-No.19 Kansas City, NIU men’s soccer delivered against the Indiana University Indianapolis Jaguars (2-2-2) on Tuesday. Driven by first-half goals from freshman forward Vance Sheffield and sophomore...

A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows indicating highs and lows. Sports Editor Kalin Schaefer discusses the high and low moments for NIU Athletics in August. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

SCHAEFER: High and lows of NIU Athletics in August

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | September 2, 2025

With the first month of the 2025 season in the books, NIU’s fall sports are well underway. While most of NIU’s teams performed well to start their seasons, some had higher highs than others.  Here are two high points, and two low points, from...

NIU men’s soccer sophomore midfielder Grant Paskus (13) cuts past a defender during the Huskies’ game against Western Illinois University on Aug. 28. Paskus scored the lone goal for the Huskies in their 2-1 loss against the University of Missouri-Kansas City on Monday. (Tous Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Men’s soccer falls to No. 19 Kansas City, suffers first loss of season

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | September 2, 2025

Despite creating double the shot opportunities of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Roos (2-0-2), NIU men’s soccer (2-1-1) earned its first loss of the season against the No. 19-ranked team in the nation.  ‘I was very happy with how we played...

Senior midfielder Jose Gomez (10) celebrates in the corner after scoring NIU’s first goal on Thursday against the Western Illinois University Leathernecks. NIU continued to score another four goals leading to a  5-0 victory against WIU. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Men’s soccer blows past Western Illinois, remains undefeated

By Edison Miller, Editor in Chief | August 29, 2025

DeKALB — Heading into its home opener against Western Illinois on Thursday evening, NIU men’s soccer head coach Ryan Swan had a message to the team: Play aggressive. “One of the messages that we had up on the board was to come out fast, you know,...

NIU men’s soccer senior midfielder Jose Gomez (10) juggles the ball during practice on Aug. 13. Gomez played 90 minutes and assisted the winning goal in the Huskies' 1-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star).

Sheffield’s first collegiate goal lifts Huskies over Green Bay

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor | August 26, 2025

After being locked at 0-0 for 84 minutes, a late goal from freshman forward Vance Sheffield was the difference in the Huskies (1-0-1) 1-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix (0-1).  “Obviously delighted to get the first win...

NIU men's soccer sophomore goalkeeper Atahan Arslan (1) catches a corner kick from Drake University on Nov. 1 in NIU's 3-2 loss against Drake. The Huskies finished the 2024 season at the bottom of the Missouri Valley Conference standings, ending with a 1-6-1 record within the MVC. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

SCHAEFER: Men’s soccer wraps up disappointing 2024 season

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | November 12, 2024

NIU men’s soccer has wrapped up a disappointing season, ending with a 3-12-1 (1-6-1 MVC) record and sitting in last place of the Missouri Valley Conference standings.  Throughout the season, the Huskies looked like a vastly different team from last...

Senior forward Zachariah Thomas (7) shoots the ball between defenders on Friday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Thomas scored a goal in the 63rd minute on Wednesday as NIU men's soccer tied Bradley University in the season finale. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s soccer ties Bradley in final match

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | November 7, 2024

NIU men’s soccer (3-12-1, 1-6-1 MVC) earned its first draw of the season in the closer against the Bradley University Braves (4-8-4, 1-5-2 MVC). The Huskies came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie up the match in the final minutes.  “The game probably...

Sophomore defender Ethan Wilson (5) passes the ball on Friday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. NIU men's soccer was eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-2 loss to Drake University on Friday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Men’s soccer ends playoff hopes after loss to Drake

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | November 2, 2024

Scoring more than one goal for the first time since Sep. 28, NIU men’s soccer (3-12, 1-6 MVC) dropped a 3-2 loss against the Drake University Bulldogs (9-3-3, 5-0-2 MVC) on Friday. The Huskies were eliminated from Missouri Valley Conference Tournament...

A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows indicating highs and lows. Sports Editor Lucas Didier shared the best and worst moments for Huskie sports in October. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)

DIDIER: Highs and lows for Huskie sports in October

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | November 1, 2024

With another month of Huskie sports comes another batch of heroics and heartbreak. From lengthy losing streaks to game-changing goals, these are the most thrilling and stinging moments from the last month of NIU Athletics. HIGH: MEN’S SOCCER SNAPS...

Sign In

Register

Reset Password

Please enter your username or email address, you will receive a link to create a new password via email.