DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team returns home on Saturday, Oct. 14, when the Huskies host 13th-ranked Western Michigan in its Mid-American Conference home opener. The match against the Broncos has been moved from 7 p.m., to 1 p.m., due to expected inclement weather in the DeKalb area on Saturday night. 

Saturday is Kick Cancer Night at the NIU Soccer Complex as the Huskies will recognize Kish Cancer Center Patients and Caretakers. 

NIU (3-7-1) returns home on the heels of a 1-1 draw at West Virginia in the conference opener last Saturday (Oct. 7). The Huskies took the lead against the Mountaineers on an own goal in the 27th minute, but conceded in the 38th as NIU and West Virginia shared the points. 

Western Michigan brings a 10-2-1 mark to DeKalb, which includes a 1-0 record in league play after the Broncos defeated Akron, 1-0, last Saturday (Oct. 7) in their MAC opener. Brandon Bye leads the way offensively for Western Michigan with a conference-best seven goals and four assists while Jay McIntosh has added four goals and six assists. 

Drew Shepherd has started 12 games in goal for the Broncos and has a 0.86 goals against average, along with a .677 save percentage and six shutouts. 

Last season, the Huskies and Broncos played to a 0-0 draw in the conference opener in Kalamazoo (Oct. 8, 2016). NIU leads the all-time series against the Broncos 18-10-2, but will be looking for its first victory over Western Michigan since the 2011 MAC Tournament Semifinals. 

Following Saturday's contest, the Huskies will be back home next Saturday, Oct. 21, when they host SIU Edwardsville in the final home game of the regular season. Kickoff against the Cougars is slated for 6 p.m.