DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team will host a pair of matches this week at the NIU Soccer Complex as the Huskies welcome Western Michigan to DeKalb on Wednesday, March 17 for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff and entertain Bowling Green on Sunday, March 21 at 12 p.m.

NIU (2-3-1, 1-1-0 MAC) comes into the week fresh off a 3-0 victory over 15th-ranked Akron on Sunday (March 14). Junior Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) scored the game-winning goal against the Zips to earn co-Mid-American Conference Player of the Week and College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors. Freshman Diego Maynez (El Paso, Texas) and sophomore Enrique Banuelos (Mexico City, Mexico/Virginia) also scored in the win over Akron. 

The Huskies allowed just six total shots against the Zips and have conceded only eight shots combined in their first two conference matches. Through two round of conference play, all six teams in the Mid-American Conference have identical 1-1 league records. 

Western Michigan comes to DeKalb with a 3-1 overall record, the Broncos topped West Virginia, 1-0, last time out (March 14). Mike Melaragni leads WMU in scoring with two goals while Isaac Walker has played in goal in all four matches for the Broncos, posting a 0.57 goals against average and a .857 save percentage. 

Bowling Green enters the week with a 3-3 overall record, the Falcons travel to West Virginia on Wednesday before traveling to DeKalb. Chris Sullivan leads Bowling Green in scoring with two goals and four assists, Sullivan shared MAC Player of the Week honors with Markanich this week after scoring the overtime winner for the Falcons against SIU Edwardsville. Logan Kowalczyk has played five matches in goal for Bowling Green and has a 0.99 goals against average and a .643 save percentage. 

Members of the general public are now welcome to attend NIU home soccer matches with capacity of the NIU Soccer Complex limited to 20 percent, or just under 400 total. Both contests will also be streamed live on Huskie All-Access on NIUHuskies.com. Subscriptions are available for $6.95 (24-hour pass), $10.95 (monthly recurring subscription) or $89.95 (annual).