Main Story

NIU, the Horizon League’s No. 4 seed, hosts No. 5 Wright State in a conference tournament quarterfinal Sunday in DeKalb. The Huskies are looking to rebound from two straight regular-season losses and advance to Wednesday’s semifinals.

By the Numbers
  • NIU: 8-6-2 overall; 5-3-2 in conference play.
  • Wright State: 7-7-3 overall; 5-3-2 in conference play.
  • NIU beat Wright State 2-1 in their Sept. 26 meeting.
  • Vance Sheffield has 5 goals, with 4 game-winners; Roman Khela has 7 assists.
Yes, But

NIU won the teams’ first meeting, but enters the tournament after consecutive losses. Wright State, meanwhile, secured its playoff spot with a 4-2 win over Oakland.

State of Play
  • Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex; the game will stream on ESPN+.
  • Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children 17 and under; NIU students get in free with a OneCard.
  • NIU’s Niko Angulo and Sheffield earned All-Horizon League first-team honors; Luka Vasic made the second team.
What’s Next

The winner advances to the semifinals Wednesday, Nov. 11. The higher-seeded remaining team will visit No. 2 Purdue Fort Wayne; the lower-seeded team will play at No. 1 Milwaukee.

Bottom Line

NIU has home field and a head-to-head win, but must turn those advantages into a postseason result to keep its season alive.