DEKALB, Ill. – The excitement is palpable in DeKalb as the Northern Illinois University (NIU) men’s soccer team gears up to host Western Michigan in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament Quarterfinals this Sunday afternoon, November 9, at 1 p.m. Fans can look forward to a thrilling matchup at the NIU Soccer and Track and Field Complex, with admission free of charge. For those unable to attend, the live broadcast will be available on ESPN+.
The Huskies are riding a wave of momentum after clinching a share of the MVC regular season title, a remarkable achievement that adds to the team’s legacy and competitiveness. They finished their regular season with an impressive 4-0 victory over Bowling Green on November 5, with standout performances that captured the team’s fighting spirit. This victory elevated NIU’s overall record to 8-4-4, including a league record of 3-1-3, spotlighting their robustness, especially considering they have gone 5-1-3 over their last nine matches.
In the decisive victory against Bowling Green, the team’s offensive prowess was on full display. Roman Khela from Huddersfield, England, ignited the scoring early in the match, setting the tone for what would become a dominating performance. Martin Montoya, hailing from Hinsdale, Illinois, quickly followed suit, contributing to a two-goal advantage within the first ten minutes. The second half saw Niko Angulo, a Dallas native, add another goal, followed by Montoya’s second tally, showcasing the teamwork and skill that has characterized NIU’s season thus far.
This season has been especially noteworthy for NIU, as they share the regular season championship with Drake and Evansville, marking the second time in five years the Huskies have claimed a regular season title. Their previous championship was in 2021 when they won the Mid-American Conference crown. The depth and talent of this year’s squad have been evident, with five players amassing over ten points. Leading the charge is Vance Sheffield from West Linn, Oregon, who has tallied an impressive 17 points this season, comprising six goals and five assists. Montoya is not far behind with 13 points, showcasing a balanced attack complemented by contributions from Katai Mukuka and Jose Gomez, who each have rounded up 12 points.
On the other side of the field, Western Michigan enters the tournament as the sixth seed, boasting a record of 5-9-3 overall and 2-2-3 in league play. The Broncos have their eyes set on upsetting the third-seeded Huskies. Jonathan Stout has been a key player for Western Michigan, leading the team with five goals and a total of ten points this season. Recent form for the Broncos suggests they are no easy contender; they have only lost once in their last six matches—an unfortunate 2-1 defeat to UIC on November 5.
Previously, the two teams clashed on October 11, 2025, in a tightly contested match that ended in a 0-0 deadlock. Despite the stalemate, it was a riveting encounter, with Western Michigan holding a slight edge in shots at 15-10. Both goalkeepers, Alex Lindewirth for Western and Atahan Arslan for NIU, displayed commendable performances, with Lindewirth making five saves compared to Arslan’s four.
This matchup represents a significant moment for the Huskies, who are making their second appearance in the MVC Tournament since joining the league. In their inaugural run, they reached the semifinals in 2023 but fell to top-seeded Western Michigan after extra time, a hard lesson that has surely fueled their ambitions this season.
The anticipation for Sunday’s quarterfinals is on the rise, with the winner set to face second-seeded Drake on Wednesday, November 12, at 6 p.m. at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. As the teams prepare, DeKalb is ready to welcome a thrilling chapter in this vibrant season of college soccer.