DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team held its first practice of the fall on Tuesday (Aug. 9) as the Huskies prepare for their inaugural season as members of the Missouri Valley Conference. NIU has just four days of training before its first exhibition contest of the fall. 

"We are happy with how the guys have come in," said seventh-year head coach Ryan Swan. "For the most part, they have returned to campus in shape. The new guys seem to be settling in quickly, playing well, and, in a lot of ways, setting the standards with their work rate. With so many of them coming from competitive teams, they were playing up until just a week or so ago, so they are in game shape. Now it's about implementing our style of play and getting ready for the first game against Creighton on Saturday."

NIU brings in 11 newcomers this fall after losing seven starters from a season ago. Despite those losses, the Huskies still return 75 percent of their goals scored from 2022. 

"The returners have done a good job of continuing the stuff we did in the spring to establish our playing style and some of our standards," said Swan. "They have brought that to the first couple days of training, which has been a good introduction for the new guys. I do think there is some learning that the new guys need to go through, but all of them have been receptive to it and when we have been out there playing, I've been really impressed."

Just two days into preseason, Swan has been pleased with some of the carryover from last spring. 

"There was some really good work done in the spring where there was a competitive edge that returned to the team," said Swan. "The guys were hungry to get on the field and play against other teams, and that is one of the big things, to make sure there is that competitive edge. Whether it's a preseason game or a regular season game, finding a way to get a result, battling for every ball and every challenge, is going to be one of the most important things. Based on these first training sessions, I think the guys are hungry for it."

Following 26 seasons in the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies, along with Bowling Green and Western Michigan have moved to the Missouri Valley as affiliate members. The trio joins full Missouri Valley Conference members Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, Missouri State and UIC to make up the nine-team conference. Missouri State is the four-time defending regular season champion, and the three-time conference tournament. 

The Huskies will travel to Omaha, Neb., for their opening exhibition contest on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. NIU will then host an exhibition against Graceland on Saturday, Aug. 19, before welcoming Western Illinois to DeKalb on Thursday, Aug. 24, for the regular season opener.