DEKALB – The NIU women's soccer team (7-5-1, 4-2 MAC) return home to play two matches this Friday against Kent State (9-4-1, 5-1 MAC) and Sunday against Ohio (6-7-1, 3-2-1 MAC). The Huskies are coming off of back-to-back overtime wins last Thursday at home over Miami (Ohio) and Sunday at Ball State.
 
The Huskies will face Kent State for the first time since the 2016 MAC Championship game where the Golden Flashes won 1-0 on a goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation. NIU boasts a stronger offensive attack this season as they have already scored four more goals in 13 games of 2017 (19) than they did in 21 games during 2016 (15).
 
NIU has six players with five or more points scored this season with junior Lauren Gierman (Prospect Heights, Ill./John Hersey) leading the way with 10 points. Gierman scored the game tying goal in the 87^th minute against Ball State with a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box.
 
The match on Friday will be the "Kick Out Caner" game as NIU players will wear special pink jerseys that will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Susan G. Koman Foundation. Sunday's game against Ohio will serve as Senior Day for women's soccer as seven players will be honored with a pre-game ceremony.
 
Ohio will come to DeKalb for Sunday's match after facing Western Michigan on Friday. The Huskies beat the Bobcats in 2016 2-1 as Taylor Sarver (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) scored both NIU goals in that game. Sarver is tied for the team lead in goals this season at three with freshman Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) but Sarver missed the last game due to injury.
 
After this weekend, NIU women's soccer will have three games remaining in the regular season with road matches at Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan and the final game of the regular season at home against Western Michigan.