DeKALB – Playing its first of three games against a Power Five school, the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team (1-1-1) takes on Baylor University (3-1) in its third weekend of the season Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.

In last Sunday's matchup against Western Illinois, NIU won its first game of the season, 1-0. The lone goal was a joint effort between sophomore Taylor Sarver (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) and junior Sammy O'Brien (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora).
 
O'Brien slipped the ball inside to Sarver, a quick pass within the six yard box past the WIU goalkeeper to record the second minute goal. The Huskies finished with six shots, taken from four different players.

The goal was Sarver's second goal in as many games this season, scoring in the fourth minute at Milwaukee on Aug. 22.

The NIU defense's speed and technical ability outshined the Leathernecks', allowing only three shots. Junior goalkeeper Amy Annala (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) was in the right spot at the right time as she stopped three shots and recorded her second shutout of 2016 and raise her career tally to seven.

In four matches this season, Baylor has recorded 10 goals, led by sophomore Lauren Piercy with four goals. On Aug. 26, Piercy recorded two braces in the team's 5-1 win over Purdue.

The Bears defense has allowed only allowed one goal on the season and a mere 13 shots, a +66 shot differential between the Bears and their foes.

The Huskies have seen the Bears in action only once before as they played each other last season. NIU came up short in the meeting at Baylor as then-freshman Julie James scored twice in the Huskies 2-0 loss.

Admission is free to the public. Fans can follow the match via live stats and watch live on NIUHuskies.com with a subscription.

NIU will take on a pair of Pac-12 foes next weekend when it takes on Arizona and Arizona State in Tucson, Ariz.

–NIU–