DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team hosts its final home game of the regular season on Friday night, October 25, as the Huskies welcome Western Michigan to the NIU Soccer Complex. Kickoff against the Broncos is scheduled for 7 p.m. and admission to all NIU soccer games is free of charge. 

Please note, due to a concert taking place at the NIU Convocation Center, fans attending Friday night's soccer game are asked to park in Lot PS (map) directly north of the NIU Soccer Complex. 

The first 50 fans in attendance at Friday's match will receive a free NIU cup as well as an exclusive poster featuring the NIU men's soccer senior class.

"Senior Night is always tough because you don't want to get caught up in the emotion and there are still a lot of games to be played, but it is also a great opportunity to honor the guys that have been with the program for so long," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "The best way for the other guys to honor the seniors is to extend their careers and play on deeper into the season."

NIU (6-7-1, 1-1-0 MAC) is coming off a 4-2 victory at West Virginia last Friday night (Oct. 25); junior Alex Welch (Carmarthen, Wales/King's College Madrid) had a hand in all four goals, tallying twice while assisting on the other two, to earn Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors. 

Welch now has three goals and six assists to rank second on the team in scoring with 12 points, trailing only sophomore Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) who has 13 points (six goals, one assist). 

Western Michigan brings a 9-4-1 overall record into Friday night's match, including a 1-0-1 mark in conference play following a 1-1 draw against Akron last Sunday (Oct. 20). The Broncos are unbeaten in their last six matches dating back to a 4-3 overtime setback against UIC on September 28. 

Charlie Sharp leads Western Michigan with six goals and 14 points while Isaac Walker has seen action in 12 games in goal for the Broncos, posting a 0.88 goals against average and a .783 save percentage. 

"This is a tough Western Michigan team, arguably the most consistent team in the MAC over the last three or four years," said Swan. "We know it will be tough, but the guys are prepared and excited for the game."

NIU will hit the road next weekend as the Huskies close the regular season with back-to-back road games, beginning next Saturday, November 2, when they travel to Akron. Game time against the Zips is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.