DEKALB – The NIU women's soccer team (4-7-2, 3-3 MAC) will welcome Akron (3-9-2, 0-4-2 MAC) and Buffalo (6-6-2, 3-3 MAC) to the NIU Soccer Complex for the last two home matches of the season this week. Friday's game against the Zips is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and Sunday's game against the Bulls is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
The Huskies fell to 3-3 in Mid-American Conference play after a 3-1 start, dropping their last two games, on the road at Miami (Ohio) last Thursday and at home against Ball State last Sunday.
Taylor Sarver (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) sits in a tie for fourth in the MAC in points (13), points per game (1.00), goals (6) and goals per game (.46) while being outside of the top ten in shots (23).
The Zips have lost three straight matches against Bowling Green, Kent State and Ohio since their 1-1 draw against Toledo on Sept. 30. Offensively, Akron is lead by Chloe Allen who has scored six goals on the season for 12 points. Goalkeeper Annabelle Hageman has started all but one game for the Zips with a 1.91 goals against average and a .703 save percentage.
The NIU women's soccer program will then honor its four seniors before Sunday's game against Buffalo. The following the Huskies will be featured in the pre-game ceremony:
Haley Cummings (Spring, Texas/Home School)
Alex Elias (Phoenix, Ariz./Boulder Creek)
Jackie Wandt (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East)
Jess Wooldridge (Center Point, Iowa/Center Point-Urbana)
The Bulls will play Western Michigan on Friday before coming to DeKalb Sunday as they are coming off of their first loss in four games after falling to Kent State 1-0. They are lead offensively by Carissima Cutrona who has eight goals and one assist for 17 points on the season. Laura Dougall has started 12 games this year for a .76 goals against average and a .847 save percentage.
The Huskies will play their last three regular season games on the road at Toledo, which will be aired on ESPN 3 on Thursday Oct. 20, then at Bowling Green Sunday Oct. 23 and finishing the season on Thursday Oct. 27 at Western Michigan.
