DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team plays the first of two home games this week on Tuesday, Oct. 11, when the Huskies host Eastern Illinois. Game time against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m., at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Tuesday's contest is Faith and Family Night, with local churches invited for a night out cheering on the Huskies.

NIU (1-5-4) comes into the match on the heels of a pair of ties last week. The Huskies played to a 1-1 draw last Tuesday (Oct. 4) before opening Mid-American Conference play with a 0-0 tie at Western Michigan (Oct. 8). Junior goalkeeper Drew Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) posted his first shutout of the season against the Broncos, recording nine saves, as NIU picked up its first point at Western Michigan since 2010.

"We have had two recovery days (after Western Michigan), two really light practices," said NIU head coach Eric Luzzi. "We talked a little bit about what we expect from Eastern Illinois but the main thing is just getting their legs back.

"It's a midweek game in between two conference games, so the biggest thing is that the guys come with the right approach, bring a good level of energy and try to replicate some of the performances we have had in the last couple of weeks, which have been pretty good."

Eastern Illinois enters the match with a 2-9-1 record after falling at Omaha this past Saturday (Oct. 8), 2-0. Davis Wegmann leads the Panthers with two goals and four points on the season. Mike Novotny has appeared in 11 matches in goal for Eastern Illinois, he has a 1.48 goals against average and a .652 save percentage.

"Eastern Illinois is better than their record, similar to us and a couple of other teams we have played," said Luzzi. "They are pretty good on the ball, so we will have to make sure that our shape without the ball is good and that we get pressure on the ball so that they don't have time to play because they have proven that when they have time they can connect things and break a team down."

Last season, the Huskies earned a 3-2 double overtime win over the Panthers in Charleston (Sept. 29, 2015). Taylor Cole and Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) scored in the opening 10 minutes for NIU before two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation for Eastern Illinois sent the game into overtime. With three seconds remaining, Luke Read (Ilford, England/Barking Abbey School) scored off a free kick from Richard Hall (Billericay, England/The Billericay School) to lift the Huskies to the win.

Eastern Illinois holds a 16-9-3 advantage in the all-time series with NIU, but the Huskies are unbeaten in the last four against the Panthers.

Tuesday's match is the first of two-straight at home for the Huskies. NIU will host Akron on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m.