Oct. 16, 2009
DeKALB, Ill. - For the second time this season, the Northern Illinois men's soccer team will tangle with the No. 1 team in the nation, Saturday, when the Huskies play unbeaten, undefeated Akron at Lee Jackson Field.
The Huskies, ranked 29th in the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), enter the match with a battle-tested 6-5-1 (1-1-0 Mid-American Conference) record. Included in that mark is a 1-1 tie at then-No. 1 North Carolina, Sept. 4, something the Huskies can look to for confidence heading into Saturday's 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
"They're a very good team, but we've played top-ranked teams before," NIU Head Coach Luzzi said. "It's on par with North Carolina, but we're also a much better team than we were the first week of September."
Northern Illinois will look to penetrate an Akron defense that has given up just two goals and hasn't trailed en route to a 12-0-0 record.
"I think we have some personnel in place that are going to give us some chances," Luzzi said.
Huskies Luis De La Cerda (Guadalajara, Mexico/Waubonsie Valley) and Brad Horton (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) will lead the NIU attack. De La Cerda has scored five goals this season, including doubles against Lafayette and Seattle. Horton has found the net four times this season, twice against UNC-Greensboro, versus Lafayette, and against Oregon State.
The skill brought by De La Cerda and Horton juxtaposed with the physicality Northern Illinois shows at all positions presents a challenge not many other teams can present.
"I think our team has a balance between a killer edge physically and the ability to play soccer at times, too," Luzzi said. "There's not a ton of teams that can do both."
The Huskies will need the right balance, and the right intensity level to get a result at one of the most difficult places to play in the country. The Zips average 1,678 fans per game, and have had more than 2,400 fans at two matches this season.
"I would hope our guys will just see it as an awesome experience that we're going to get to play in front of 2,000-plus people," Luzzi said.
The Huskies have faced tough crowds before, including masses of over a thousand against the Tar Heels and at Hartwick. Luzzi said that the key for his team no matter what the environment has been bringing focus and passion to the field.
"Our biggest tests come when our team doesn't bring energy," he said. "I'm not worried about that on Saturday."
