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Northern Illinois Huskies men's soccer

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Northern Illinois Huskies men's soccer
Founded1962; 62 years ago (1962)
UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Head coachRyan Swan (6th season)
ConferenceMVC
LocationDeKalb, Illinois
StadiumNIU Soccer Complex
(Capacity: 1,500)
NicknameHuskies
ColorsCardinal and black[1]
   
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament Round of 16
1973
NCAA Tournament Round of 32
1973, 2006, 2011, 2021
NCAA Tournament appearances
1973, 2006, 2011, 2021
Conference Tournament championships
1989 (BCSC)
2006, 2011, 2021 (MAC)
Conference Regular Season championships
1984 (MMC)
1990 (Mid-Con)
2006, 2021 (MAC)

The Northern Illinois Huskies men's soccer team is the college soccer team that represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. The school's team competed in NIU's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) through the 2022 season, after which the conference stopped sponsoring men's soccer.[2] NIU moved that sport to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) effective with the 2023 season, joining fellow MAC members Bowling Green and Western Michigan in this move.[3] NIU men's soccer started playing in 1962 and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times (1973, 2006, 2011, 2021). The Huskies are coached by Ryan Swan.

Season-by-season records

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Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bob Kahler (Independent) (1962–1962)
1962 Bob Kahler 0–5
Bob Kahler: 0–5
William Healey (Independent) (1963–1968)
1963 William Healey 3–4
1964 William Healey 3–4
1965 William Healey 0–5
1966 William Healey 2–3
1967 William Healey 6–1
1968 William Healey 8–1
William Healey: 22–18
Dave Bucher (Independent) (1969–1979)
1969 Dave Bucher 8–1
1970 Dave Bucher 6–3–2
1971 Dave Bucher 7–2–1
1972 Dave Bucher 3–5–2
1973 Dave Bucher 7–2–2 NCAA Round of 16
1974 Dave Bucher 5–2–3
1975 Dave Bucher 6–5
1976 Dave Bucher 7–3–2
1977 Dave Bucher 7–4
1978 Dave Bucher 7–2–3
1979 Dave Bucher 6–7–1
Dave Bucher: 69–36–16
John LeWang (Independent) (1980–1980)
1980 John LeWang 5–7–2
John LeWang: 5–7–2
Jerry Collins (Midwest Metro) (1981–1986)
1981 Jerry Collins 4–9–2 1–2 3rd
1982 Jerry Collins 7–9–1 3–1–1 T–2nd
1983 Jerry Collins 8–7–2 4–1 2nd
1984 Jerry Collins 13–5–1 5–0 1st
1985 Jerry Collins 8–10–2 3–1 2nd
1986 Jerry Collins 6–12–1 1–3–1 T–5th
Jerry Collins: 45–52–9 17–7–2
Willy Roy (Big Central) (1987–1989)
1987 Willy Roy 6–10–2 1–3 5th
1988 Willy Roy 7–10–1 0–6 7th
1989 Willy Roy 14–4–2 4–2 3rd
Willy Roy (Mid-Con) (1990–1993)
1990 Willy Roy 13–5–2 6–1 1st
1991 Willy Roy 11–5–3 5–2–1 3rd
1992 Willy Roy 6–9–2 3–3–1 4th
1993 Willy Roy 11–6–2 4–2–2 4th
Willy Roy (MCC) (1994–1996)
1994 Willy Roy 10–7–1 5–3–1 3rd
1995 Willy Roy 7–10–2 3–5 6th
1996 Willy Roy 8–9–1 3–4–1 4th
Willy Roy (MAC) (1997–2002)
1997 Willy Roy 10–9–1 2–4–1 6th
1998 Willy Roy 12–4–1 5–3 3rd
1999 Willy Roy 12–9 3–4 T–5th
2000 Willy Roy 7–9 3–3 5th
2001 Willy Roy 4–12–1 1–5 7th
2002 Willy Roy 4–13–1 2–4 6th
Willy Roy: 142–131–22 50–54–7
Steve Simmons (MAC) (2003–2008)
2003 Steve Simmons 3–12–2 2–4 5th
2004 Steve Simmons 12–7 4–2 T–2nd
2005 Steve Simmons 11–6–2 4–2 2nd
2006 Steve Simmons 15–6–1 4–1 1st NCAA Round of 32
2007 Steve Simmons 7–9–4 1–3–1 5th
2008 Steve Simmons 11–6–4 4–1–1 2nd
Steve Simmons: 59–47–13 19–13–2
Eric Luzzi (MAC) (2009–2016)
2009 Eric Luzzi 10–8–1 3–3 4th
2010 Eric Luzzi 9–6–2 2–4 5th
2011 Eric Luzzi 15–6 4–1 2nd NCAA Round of 32
2012 Eric Luzzi 7–10–3 4–2–1 T–2nd
2013 Eric Luzzi 4–13–1 0–5–1 7th
2014 Eric Luzzi 3–9–5 0–4–1 6th
2015 Eric Luzzi 7–7–1 1–3–1 5th
2016 Eric Luzzi 2–10–4 1–3–1 5th
Eric Luzzi: 57–69–17 15–25–5
Ryan Swan (MAC) (2017–2022)
2017 Ryan Swan 3–11-1 0-4-1 6th
2018 Ryan Swan 8–9-1 1-4-0 6th
2019 Ryan Swan 7–10-1 2-3-0 T-4th
2020-21 Ryan Swan 5–8-1 4-6-0 5th
2021 Ryan Swan 15–3-2 4-0-2 1st NCAA Round of 32
2022 Ryan Swan 5–8-4 2-5-1 4th
Ryan Swan (MVC) (2023–present)
2023 Ryan Swan 7-9-1 3-4-1 T-5th
2024 Ryan Swan 3-12-1 1-6-1 9th (Last)
Ryan Swan: 53–70–12 17–32–6
Total: 452–435–91

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

  • Source: NIU Men's Soccer Record Book[4]

NCAA tournament

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The Huskies have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–4.[4]

Year Round Opponent Result NIU Head Coach
1973 Round of 16 SIU Edwardsville L 3–0 Dave Bucher
2006 First round
Second Round
Loyola Chicago
(7) Indiana
W 1–0 (OT)
L 1–0
Steve Simmons
2011 First round
Second Round
Western Illinois
(2) Creighton
W 3–0
L 3–0
Eric Luzzi
2021 First round
Second Round
Oaklnd
Pittsburgh(5)
W 2–1
L 5–2
Ryan Swan

Lewang Cup

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Since 1981, the winner of the annual match between NIU and UW-Milwaukee claims the John Lewang Memorial Cup. The trophy is named in honor of former NIU coach John Lewang, who was killed in a car accident prior to the 1981 season. Lewang came to NIU as head coach in 1980 following his time as an assistant at UW-Milwaukee and died in a car accident after his first season leading the Huskies.[5]

Match results

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NIU victoriesMilwaukee victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 1981 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 3–1
2 1982 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 4–3
3 1983 DeKalb, IL NIU 3–2
4 1984 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 4–2
5 1985 DeKalb, IL NIU 3–1
6 1986 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 4–1
7 1987 DeKalb, IL NIU 1–0
8 1988 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 2–1
9 1989 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 2–1
10 1990 DeKalb, IL Tie2–2
11 1991 Milwaukee, WI NIU 5–1
12 1992 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 3–0
13 1993 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 3–1
14 1994 DeKalb, IL NIU 3–2
15 1995 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 2–1
16 1996 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 1–0
17 1997 Milwaukee, WI NIU 3–2
18 1998 DeKalb, IL NIU 2–0
19 1999 Milwaukee, WI NIU 3–1
20 2000 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 4–2
21 2001 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 3–0
22 2002 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 1–0
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
23 2003 Madison, WI Milwaukee 2–0
24 2004 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 1–0
25 2005 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 1–0
26 2006 Milwaukee, WI NIU 1–0
27 2007 DeKalb, IL NIU 1–0
28 2008 Milwaukee, WI Tie2–2
29 2009 DeKalb, IL NIU 5–1
30 2010 Milwaukee, WI NIU 5–1
31 2011 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 1–0
32 2012 Evanston, IL Milwaukee 1–0
33 2013 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 1–0
34 2014 Milwaukee, WI Tie2–2
35 2015 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 2–1
36 2016 Milwaukee, WI NIU 2–1
37 2017 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 1–0
38 2018 Milwaukee, WI NIU 2–1
39 2019 DeKalb, IL NIU 1–0
40 2021 Milwaukee, WI NIU 4–0
41 2022 DeKalb, IL NIU 3–2
42 2023 Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee 3–2
43 2024 DeKalb, IL Milwaukee 2–0
Series: Milwaukee leads 23–17–3

Honours

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Honors

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All-Americans

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NIU men's soccer has had seven players named to All-America teams, including two NCAA First-Team All-Americans.[4]

Year Player Position Team
1970 United States Allan Zelechowski Sweeper Honorable Mention
1971 United States Edward Kositzki Forward Honorable Mention
1974 United States Peter Mannos Goalkeeper First-Team
1975 United States Peter Mannos Goalkeeper First-Team
1975 United States Paul Wenson Midfielder Second-Team
1976 United States Mike Strahler Defender Honorable Mention
1984 Norway Johan Bergseth Forward Third-Team

Academic All-Americans

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NIU men's soccer has had a combined 13 players named to CoSIDA and NSCAA Academic All-America teams, including four First-Team Academic All-Americans.[4]

Year Player Position Organization Team
1989 United States Markus Roy Goalkeeper NSCAA Honorable Mention
1990 United States Markus Roy Goalkeeper NSCAA First-Team
1991 United States Markus Roy Goalkeeper NSCAA First-Team
1996 Norway Sigurd Slaastad Midfielder CoSIDA Second-Team
1997 Norway Sigurd Slaastad Midfielder CoSIDA Second-Team
1998 United States Jeff Stojak Midfielder CoSIDA Second-Team
1999 United States Jeff Stojak Midfielder CoSIDA First-Team
2000 United States Peter Agrimson Defender NSCAA Second-Team
2002 United States Peter Agrimson Defender NSCAA Second-Team
2003 United States Andy Champion Defender CoSIDA Second-Team
2008 United States Kyle Knotek Midfielder CoSIDA Second-Team
2010 United States Kyle Knotek Midfielder CoSIDA First-Team
2014 United States Dusty Page Defender CoSIDA Second-Team

Freshman All-Americans

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NIU men's soccer has had two players named to College Soccer News All-Freshman teams.[6]

Year Player Position Team
2004 United States Curt Zastrow Forward Second-Team
2008 United States Brad Horton Midfielder Second-Team

Coaches of the Year

[edit]

NIU men's soccer has had three head coaches named Coach of the Year by the conference.[4]

Year Head Coach Conference
1990 United States Willy Roy Mid-Continent
2004 United States Steve Simmons MAC
2006 United States Steve Simmons MAC

References

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  1. ^ "NIU Athletic Marks Standards Guide" (PDF). July 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  2. ^ "MAC to Suspend Sponsoring Men's Soccer Following 2022 Season" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Missouri Valley Conference To Expand in Men's Soccer for 2023" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "NIU Men's Soccer Record Book" (PDF).
  5. ^ Huskies Travel to Milwaukee for Lewang Cup Showdown
  6. ^ College Soccer News All-Freshman Team Archives
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