DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team opens the 2025 regular season on Thursday, Aug. 14, as the Huskies host Marquette at the NIU Soccer Complex. NIU will then welcome DePaul to DeKalb on Sunday, Aug. 17, for a 7 p.m. start to finish the weekend. Admission to all NIU Soccer games is free of charge.
"The first two weeks of camp have been high intensity, staying true to our game model, our principles of play," said NIU head coach
Michael O'Neill. "There is an excitement for tomorrow's home opener against Marquette. We are ready to go; things are moving as they should be for a preseason camp. We are still trying to figure out the pieces to the jigsaw, but that isn't a worry of mine, that's more of a testament to the strength and depth that we have."
NIU is coming off a 9-5-5 record in 2024 as the Huskies posted their most victories since the 2010 season. NIU scored 29 goals a season ago, its highest number since 1998.
Tyra King (Menifee, Calif./Metea Valley) tallied eight goals last year and earned Second Team All-MAC and Second Team All-Region recognition. Earlier this week, King was named to the NCAA Division I Forwards to Watch List by the United Soccer Coaches.
In total, NIU returns 21 goals from a season ago, with
Kelsi McLaughlin (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) adding four to King's eight in her first season at NIU after joining the Huskies from Illinois State.
The Huskies were picked eighth in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, which was announced on Tuesday (Aug. 12). Western Michigan was selected as the preseason favorite in the conference.
Marquette is coming off a 6-11-3 record in 2024, which included a 3-6-1 mark in Big East play. The Golden Eagles were picked to finish ninth in the Big East preseason poll. Josie Bieda and Emily Fix each scored three goals in 2024 and are the leading returning goalscorers for the Golden Eagles.
DePaul opens the season against Chicago State on Thursday (Aug. 14) before making the trip to DeKalb on Sunday evening. The Blue Demons went 5-8-7 a season ago, including 3-3-4 in league play. DePaul was picked seventh in this season's Big East preseason poll.
Following this weekend's home games, the Huskies will travel to Minnesota for a pair of matches, beginning with a visit to St. Thomas on Thursday, Aug. 21, before meeting the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sunday, Aug. 24.
