DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team will host of pair of games at home this weekend, welcoming Green Bay to DeKalb on Friday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., before hosting Eastern Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m.

"This is the first time that we will have back-to-back home games on a weekend, which is exciting," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "It is always fun to play in front of your home crowd, your family and friends. It definitely gives us an extra boost and we are ready."

Friday night is Diversity and Inclusion Night and the first 40 NIU students who show their OneCard will receive a free meal courtesy of the NIU Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  

NIU (0-5) is coming off a heartbreaking 1-0 double overtime loss at UTEP, falling on a penalty kick in the 102nd minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made 10 saves against the Miners; she leads the MAC in saves with 45 and ranks seventh in the conference with a .804 save percentage. 

"I think that game helped our players see that if they trust in the system and execute it works well," said Colhoff. "So I think some people are a little more bought into things right now. We are excited to go back out and play because we were so close and we know we let that one slip, so we are hungry to get back on the field."

Green Bay brings a 1-5 record to DeKalb after falling in a pair of matches last weekend at South Dakota State, 2-0, and Omaha, 1-0. McKayla Kertscher leads the Phoenix with two goals while Taylor Reichow has appeared in four matches in goal, recording a 2.57 goals against average and a .625 save percentage. 

Eastern Illinois enters the weekend with a 1-2-2 mark and will host Indiana State on Friday before coming to DeKalb on Sunday. The Panthers are coming off their first win of the season, earning a 2-0 victory over Chicago State this past Sunday (Sept. 2). Haylee Renick and Sara DeWolf each have two goals to lead Eastern Illinois while Sara Teteak has played three matches in goal with a 0.93 goals against average and a .857 save percentage. 

After its two home games this weekend, NIU will play its final non-conference game on Friday, Sept. 14, when the Huskies travel to Northern Iowa. Game time against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m.