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. 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. 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.
The 2025 season is the Huskies' last in the MVC. On July 1, 2026, NIU will rejoin the Horizon League, in which it had been a member from 1994 to 1997 (1994–1996 seasons).
Season-by-season records
Source: NIU Men's Soccer Record Book
NCAA tournament The Huskies have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–4. 1973Round of 16SIU EdwardsvilleL 3–0Dave Bucher 2006First roundSecond Round Loyola Chicago (7) Indiana W 1–0 (OT)L 1–0Steve Simmons 2011First roundSecond Round Western Illinois(2) CreightonW 3–0L 3–0Eric Luzzi 2021First roundSecond Round Oaklnd Pittsburgh(5)W 2–1L 5–2Ryan Swan
Lewang Cup 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.Huskies Travel to Milwaukee for Lewang Cup Showdown
Match results
Honours Mid-American Conference tournament: Winners (3): 2006, 2011, 2021 Runners-up (3): 1999, 2008, 2012 Mid-American Conference regular season: Winners (2): 2006, 2021 Runners-up (5): 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012 Mid-Continent Conference regular season: Winners (1): 1990 Big Central Soccer Conference tournament: Winners (1): 1989 Midwest Metropolitan Conference regular season: Winners (1): 1984 Runners-up (3): 1982, 1983, 1985
Honors All-Americans NIU men's soccer has had seven players named to All-America teams, including two NCAA First-Team All-Americans. 1970 Allan ZelechowskiSweeperHonorable Mention1971 Edward KositzkiForwardHonorable Mention1974 Peter MannosGoalkeeperFirst-Team1975 Peter MannosGoalkeeperFirst-Team1975 Paul WensonMidfielderSecond-Team1976 Mike StrahlerDefenderHonorable Mention1984 Johan BergsethForwardThird-Team
Academic All-Americans 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. 1989 Markus RoyGoalkeeperNSCAAHonorable Mention1990 Markus RoyGoalkeeperNSCAAFirst-Team1991 Markus RoyGoalkeeperNSCAAFirst-Team1996 Sigurd SlaastadMidfielderCoSIDASecond-Team1997 Sigurd SlaastadMidfielderCoSIDASecond-Team1998 Jeff StojakMidfielderCoSIDASecond-Team1999 Jeff StojakMidfielderCoSIDAFirst-Team2000 Peter AgrimsonDefenderNSCAASecond-Team2002 Peter AgrimsonDefenderNSCAASecond-Team2003 Andy ChampionDefenderCoSIDASecond-Team2008 Kyle KnotekMidfielderCoSIDASecond-Team2010 Kyle KnotekMidfielderCoSIDAFirst-Team2014 Dusty PageDefenderCoSIDASecond-Team
Freshman All-Americans NIU men's soccer has had two players named to College Soccer News All-Freshman teams.College Soccer News All-Freshman Team Archives 2004 Curt ZastrowForwardSecond-Team2008 Brad HortonMidfielderSecond-Team
Coaches of the Year NIU men's soccer has had three head coaches named Coach of the Year by the conference. 1990 Willy RoyMid-Continent2004 Steve SimmonsMAC2006 Steve SimmonsMAC
References
External links