DEKALB, Ill. – For the first time in a decade, the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team brings a national ranking into a contest as the 22nd-ranked Huskies host No. 17 Bowling Green on Saturday night, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. at the NIU Soccer Complex. Admission is free of charge. 

The matchup pits the only two unbeatens in the Mid-American Conference as both teams enter Saturday's game at 2-0 in league play. 

"We have the defending conference champions coming in and they are having a fantastic year, they are nationally-ranked, so we know it will be a big challenge," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "Every game in the MAC is a challenge, everyone is capable of beating everyone. We have trained well this week and we are ready to go. This is the game in front of us so hopefully everyone is ready, and we are excited to get out there."

NIU brings a nine-match win streak into the contest with Bowling Green, the second-longest win streak in the country behind only Washington (11). The Huskies moved into the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 this week, ranked 22nd. It is the first time NIU has been ranked in the poll since Sept. 27, 2011, when NIU was ranked 18th.

The Huskies are 10-1 overall after topping then fourth-ranked West Virginia, 2-0, last Saturday (Oct. 9). Adrian Lara (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet Township) netted the opener and Eddie Knight (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star) sealed the win with his first career goal. NIU goalkeeper Martin Sanchez (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) made three saves to pick up his national-leading eighth shutout of the season. 

Sanchez has the nation's second-best goals against average at 0.30 while the Huskies lead the nation with a team goals against average of 0.27. 

Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) saw his school-record streak of eight consecutive games with a goal end against the Mountaineers, but he still leads the country with 12 goals this season. Markanich is also tied with Cornell's Tyler Bagley for the nation lead in points with 27. 

Bowling Green comes to DeKalb with a 9-2-1 overall record after sweeping Georgia State and Georgia Southern in its first two conference games last weekend. Four players have scored double-digit points for the Falcons, led by Alberto Anaya with four goals and four assists (12 points). Kyle Cusimano is tied for third in the nation with eight assists while goalkeeper Logan Kowalczyk is tied for second nationally with seven shutouts. As a team, the Falcons are eighth in the country in team goals against average, allowing just 0.56 goals per game. 

Six of the last 11 meetings between the Huskies and Falcons have gone to overtime, with just one of those 11 matchups being decided by more than one goal. 

"We said it last week, we think the home support could help determine where we finish this year in the conference," said Swan. "Last week was fantastic, so many people came out for the game with West Virginia and tomorrow is a great opportunity for a wonderful day of Huskie athletics. Go watch the football game and come over and finish your evening at the soccer complex."

Following Saturday's game, the Huskies will head south for a two-game swing through the State of Georgia, beginning on Thursday, Oct. 21, at Georgia Southern.