DEKALB, Ill. – The NIU Football team will host Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon in its home opener, highlighting this week in Huskie Athletics. The NIU volleyball team will be in action in Chicago, Huskie men's and women's golf will be in action for the first time this season while the men's and women's soccer teams will both be in action away from home. 

Football
Saturday, September 9: vs. Southern Illinois, 2:30 p.m. – ESPN+ | Listen Live | Live Stats | Buy Tickets

The NIU football team hosts the SIU Salukis in the home opener at Huskie Stadium this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Huskies are 1-0 on the season after a 27-24 win in overtime at Boston College last week. It was NIU's 18th win over a Power Five program in team history and the second for head coach Thomas Hammock. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard sneak as the Huskies took down the Eagles. NIU had the football for over 35 minutes last Saturday, pounding out 166 rushing yards. A full preview will be available on NIUHuskies.com later in the week.

Volleyball
Thursday, September 7: at DePaul, 7 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats
Friday, September 8: vs. Evansville (Chicago, Ill.), 4 p.m. – Live Stats
Saturday, September 9: vs. St. Thomas (Chicago, Ill.), 12 p.m. – Live Stats

The Huskie volleyball team will play three matches in three days this weekend in Chicago as NIU competes in the DePaul Invitational. The Huskies open the tournament on Thursday night against host DePaul before taking on Evansville on Friday and St. Thomas on Saturday. NIU earned its first victory of the season last Friday against UNC Wilmington in Davidson's Wildcat Classic. Nikolette Nedic recorded a match-high 17 kills in the victory, she is currently averaging a team-high 3.56 kills per set, second-best in the MAC. Crew Hoffmeier currently leads the MAC in digs, averaging 5.37 per set. 

Men's Soccer
Friday, September 8: at Northwestern, 7 p.m. – Live Video | Live Stats

Coming off a seven-goal performance on Monday night (Sept. 4) against Aurora, the NIU men's soccer team returns to the road on Friday night when the Huskies travel to Northwestern. Eddie Knight recorded the 32nd hat trick in program history in the win over the Spartans, Camilo Estrada added a pair of goals while Taisei Arima and Taylor Davis also got on the scoresheet. Last Friday at Notre Dame (Sept. 1), goalkeeper Jakub Rojek made 10 saves in a narrow, 1-0 defeat to the Fighting Irish. The 10-save performance was the first by a NIU goalkeeper since Christoph Koninger recorded 11 in a 1-1 draw against UIC on Oct. 4, 2016. NIU will be making its first trip to Evanston since 2014. The Huskies lead the all-time series against the Wildcats, 18-12-3. 

Women's Soccer
Sunday, September 10: at Southern Indiana, 1 p.m. – ESPN+ | Live Stats

The Huskies will play another match in Indiana this week, taking on the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville on Sunday. NIU is coming of a 2-0 setback to Big Ten opponent Indiana and is 2-2-1 overall this season. Goalkeeper Sadie McGill has held three clean sheets in five starts this season. Isabel Struble has scored two goals so far which leads NIU. Lea Gruennagel has one goal and two assists to lead NIU with four points in 2023. The matchup against USI is the final non-conference road game of the season. 

Men's Golf
Sunday-Monday, September 10-11: Gopher Invitational (Independence, Minn.) – Live Scoring

The reigning Mid-American Conference champion NIU men's golf team opens its 2023-24 season Sept. 10th and 11th at the Gopher Invitational, hosted by Minnesota at Windsong Farm Golf Club. The Huskies return three of their top-five golfers from a year ago, led by All-MAC selection Ben Sluzas. The junior won two tournaments in the 2022-23 season and had a scoring average of 72.314. Fifth-year Zach Place was NIU's top finisher at last year's MAC Championship, tying for fifth place at even par. He was also the Huskies' top finisher at the NCAA Regional, placing in a tie for 14th place at nine-under par. NIU bolstered its roster with the addition of transfers Josh Kirkham from Bradley and Felix Krammer from Arkansas State along with freshman Craig Long from Alpharetta, Ga.

Women's Golf
Sunday-Monday, September 10-11: Redbird Invitational (Normal, Ill.)

The NIU women's golf team opens the fall portion of its 2023-24 season at the Redbird Invitational in Normal, Illinois, beginning on Sunday, September 10.  NIU is familiar with the course and the tournament, having started its fall competitive season at the event – played at the Weibring Golf Club – every year since 2013. 

The Huskies return five of their top six players from a year ago, led by two-time first team All-Mid-American Conference honoree Jasmine Ly, the 2022 MAC individual champion and NCAA qualifier. Joining Ly in head coach Kim Kester's opening tournament line-up are 2023 second team All-MAC players Sydney Naro and senior Emily Romancew, along with juniors Caroline Kent and Johanna Ludviskdottir. Senior Karen Liu will play as an individual. 

The tournament will be played Sunday and Monday, September 10-11 with 36 holes on Sunday and 18 on Monday.