DEKALB – The NIU women's soccer team (1-1-1) will play on the road in Chicago Wednesday night against UIC (0-3) at 7:00 p.m. CT at Flames Field. The Huskies are coming off of their first loss of 2017 when they fell to Wisconsin 2-0 on Sunday.
 
NIU's loss to Wisconsin saw them give up a goal for the first time this season after back-to-back clean sheets in their first two matches against Western Illinois and New Mexico State. After taking a 0-0 draw into halftime the Huskies couldn't keep the Badgers off of the score sheet when they scored in the 58^th and 71^st minutes.
 
The Huskies are hoping to generate more offense on Wednesday after only being able to take one shot against Wisconsin. The shot was taking by Taylor Sarver (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) who played in her first match after missing the first two.
 
NIU will look to Sarver's finishing ability and Lauren Gierman's (Prospect Heights, Ill./John Hersey) playmaking ability to get more scoring opportunities. It was Gierman's first start of 2017 and the first time playing with Sarver as the two former All-MAC First Team performers are NIU's most accomplished offensive players.
 
Defensively, redshirt junior Delaney Loprieno (Algonquin, Ill./Huntley) has played every minute of all three matches so far in 2017, all but solidifying her spot as a central defender. Goalkeeper Amy Annala has also played every minute this season making 12 saves on 14 shots on goal.
 
The Huskies will play one more road match against Green Bay next Sunday before returning home to face Milwaukee on Friday, Sept. 8 followed by another home match the following Friday.