Sept. 2, 2010

Free NIU-Portland Live Video

Editor's Note: The Northern Illinois men's soccer team opens the 2010 season at No. 19 Portland, Friday at 9:30 p.m. (CDT). The match is the first for NIU of the Portland Nike Invitational. The Huskies will face Washington, Sunday at 1 p.m. (CDT). A live video stream of the Huskies' game against the Pilots will be available for free at PortlandPilots.com.

Every player on the Northern Illinois men's soccer team must pass a grueling physical gauntlet before being allowed to play in a regular season match. The trial, known simply as "The Fitness Test" pushes each Huskie to his limit, testing him with nearly two miles of runs and sprints. Every player must complete the rigorous engagement in 10:06 or less, or come back to try it a different day.

To a man, the members of the NIU men's soccer team describe it as the most hated day of the year.

Freshman Gael Rivera's turn to take the test came August 30. Halfway through, his breath came in heaving gasps. With one half-a-mile to go, he leaned on his teammates during short resting periods as his own will to stand failed him. Coming up on his final quarter-mile, there was simply no way he would finish.

Then something great happened. Not great as in "lunch today was great" or "I hope you have a great day." Something truly grand. Unforgettable. Almost magical.

One by one, as Rivera came upon the last 400 meters, his teammates began to join him. They clapped and cheered. More Huskies came alongside Rivera with each step until you could not see the 5-foot-7 midfielder. They sang songs of encouragement and chanted mantras of victory. Before long, 400 meters turned to 200. And 200 became just 100. Down that final stretch of that dreaded day, Rivera found strength to sprint to the finish, not from the inside, but from those who cared about him most: his teammates.

"At first I thought I couldn't do it," Rivera recounted in the moments after the test. "But when I saw all the team running together with me... I don't know what happened. A sprint came out of me."

That moment defined what Northern Illinois men's soccer is about in 2010. Each player giving for the common good. Each player cares about the man next to him in the line-up more than he cares about himself.

"Our day-to-day environment is very special," head coach Eric Luzzi said. "Our guys care about each other and that extends to their commitment to our program as a whole. It's a special place to be and a special time to be part of our team."

Luzzi would know. He has been with the Northern Illinois program since 2006, when the team won the Mid-American Conference championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Now in his second year as the head coach, Luzzi is happier now with his team chemistry than ever before.

"When you look at the makeup of the players on our team, we have a very unique dynamic," Luzzi said. "We have this culture within our team that is very special."

But while the vibe on the team is unlike anything Luzzi has seen, it is also far from carefree. The Huskies came up with 10 wins against a schedule that saw them face the No. 1 team in the country four times, but also lost in the first round of the MAC Tournament.

"Our goals and expectations are higher this year (than in 2009)," Luzzi said. "Generally we were pleased with last season but not satisfied.

Ten wins against the schedule we put together was a great accomplishment," he continued. "But at the end of the day, we didn't make the NCAA tournament and that's our goal. Anything short of that for us this year is going to be looked upon as underachieving."

Those lofty expectations have created an environment in training that sees an ounce of playfulness mixed with a pound of professionalism. Luzzi guaranteed no one's spot in the starting line-up, and has consistently expounded upon the team's depth and internal competitiveness in the preseason.

While no position is guaranteed, there are certainly players that will be difficult for Luzzi to keep off the field. That group is led by outside back Kyle Knotek. A fifth-year senior, Knotek blew out his knee in the first training of 2009, what should have been his senior season. Instead, the Academic All-American sat, preparing his mind and his body for 2010.

"Kyle is going to be our leader in a lot of different ways," Luzzi said. "He's been around the block, he does own a MAC Championship ring, and he will be the only guy on our roster that has one of those."

With all Knotek has, he will be only one member of a four-man back line. The Huskies will look to an experienced group that also includes Francis Otira, and Tim King to solidify the defense.

The Huskie midfield looks as crowded as the five o' clock el. Junior outside midfielder Brad Horton enters his junior season after leading NIU in goals in each of his first two years.

"Brad is a guy that we are always going to look towards to score goals and get plenty of points," Luzzi said.

Senior Luis Mojica appears to have the inside track to start opposite Horton.

"It took us a little while to find Luis' best role within our team, but he very well may have been our best player in the spring," Luzzi said. "With those two guys terrorizing the wings, I think we could be in for some exciting times this fall."

Add to the mix senior Engebreth Faerden and junior Finn Jor, who Luzzi has placed on the team's leadership council with the four seniors, and the Huskie midfield has two pieces to be as good as it has been during Luzzi's tenure.

The midfield will have a potent target up top to play the ball to. Senior Juan Hoyos scored four goals in three exhibition contests after blasting in five during the 2009 campaign.

"Physically Juan is a beast, that's the only word I can think of to describe Juan," Luzzi said. "Add to that the way he has come around as a soccer player and a finisher, I think Juan is a kid that is capable of scoring 10-12 goals this season."

The final piece for the Huskies stands between the pipes. NIU has three capable keepers. Leading off the group is 2009 starter Jordan Godsey, who tallied seven shutouts in 17 appearances. But junior college transfer Nate DuBois and freshman Miles Herbert have also tried to lay claim to the position.

"Jordan had a fantastic year for us last year," Luzzi said. "I think he has the potential to be one of the best goalkeepers in the country, but Nate DuBois had a great spring and pushed Jordan to his limits."

In line with recent tradition, the Huskies will be pushed to their limits by a treacherous schedule. NIU hosts the perennial conference darby with preseason national No. 1 Akron, but also faces No. 9 Northwestern in addition to Friday's contest against the Pilots.

The Akron match immediately follows the NIU-Temple football game Oct. 9. Fans are encouraged to reverse tailgate between the two contests.