DEKALB, Ill. – Seven regular season home games highlight the 2026 Northern Illinois University women's soccer schedule as the Huskies, under fifth-year head coach Michael O'Neill, announce their inaugural Horizon League slate. 

Following a pair of exhibition contests against Western Illinois (Aug. 5) and Drake (Aug. 8), the Huskies open the regular season with a pair of road contests as NIU travels to Illinois State for the season opener on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and DePaul on Sunday, Aug. 16. 

The Huskie home opener will take place on Sunday, Aug. 23, as NIU welcomes Northern Iowa to the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Following that contest, the Huskies will head back on the road for their next two at Missouri (Aug. 27) and Marquette (Aug. 30). 

A four-game homestand follows, starting with a visit by Loyola Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 10. NIU will then host Green Bay in its first Horizon League contest on Saturday, Sept. 19. Northern Kentucky (Sept. 24) and Wright State (Sept. 27) will also come to DeKalb during the four-game stretch. 

NIU opens October with a trio of road contests, starting with a trip to Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday, Oct. 1. The Huskies also visit Cleveland State on Oct. 4, and defending Horizon League regular season and tournament champion Milwaukee on Oct. 10. 

The final two regular season home games will take place against Detroit Mercy on Thursday, Oct. 15, and Oakland on Sunday, Oct. 18. 

Each of NIU's final three games will take place away from home as the Huskies head to Youngstown State on Oct. 22, Robert Morris on Oct. 25, and IU Indy on Oct. 30. 

Admission to all Huskie home games at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex are free of charge.