DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University men's soccer team begins its 2025 season on Thursday, Aug. 21, as the Huskies travel to Milwaukee for their annual Lewang Cup matchup against the Panthers. NIU will then head to Green Bay on Monday, Aug. 25, to face the Phoenix to finish its two-game trip to Wisconsin to begin the regular season. 

"To have (Milwaukee) as the opening game of the season adds an extra little bit of excitement," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "That game always has a little extra bite. For the new guys to step in and experience that right away is very exciting for all of us."

NIU and Milwaukee have met in every season since 1975, with the exception of the COVID spring campaign in 2021. Since 1981, the two programs have played for the Lewang Cup. The trophy is named in honor of former Milwaukee assistant and NIU head coach John Lewang, who came to NIU as head coach in 1980 following his time as an assistant at Milwaukee. Lewang died in a car accident after his first season leading the Huskies and the two programs have honored his memory with the trophy game ever since.

The Huskies return 85 percent of their goalscoring from a season ago, including Sam Divis (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) who scored a team-high four goals in 2024 and Jose Gomez (Roatan, Honduras/Clarke University) who led the team with 11 points, including three goals. Gomez was named to the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Team earlier this week. 

NIU welcomes back 20 players who were with the squad this past spring, including three transfers who are starting their first fall in DeKalb. The Huskies added two more transfers this fall to go along with six freshmen to make up the incoming class. 

"From last fall we have added 11 new guys but I think that we are going to see our returners really step up this year," said Swan. "The guys that have been around are integrated into the culture, they are bought in and have developed with our coaching staff."

Milwaukee is coming off a 9-5-5 season in 2024, which included a 2-0 victory over the Huskies. Bienvenu Djunga is the leading returning scorer for the Panthers, he scored three goals with three assists last season for Milwaukee. 

Green Bay recorded an 11-7-2 overall record a season ago as the Phoenix posted a 7-0-2 mark at home in 2024. Chris Album scored seven goals last year and is the leading returning scorer for Green Bay. The Phoenix were picked as the preseason favorite in the Horizon League. 

Following its opening two games in Wisconsin, NIU will return home on Thursday, Aug. 28, when it hosts Western Illinois at 5 p.m.