Sept. 17, 2009

DEKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois women's soccer team will continue its action at home this weekend when the Huskies take on Oakland in a 4 p.m. match-up, Friday, and Liberty, Sunday, at 1 p.m. at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. The Huskies enter their final non-conference games of the season this weekend with a 2-4 record after splitting last weekend's matches.

The Huskies edged out Southern Illinois Edwardsville in an overtime victory against the Cougars, Sept. 11, after a late goal by Kim Schmitt (Homewood, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor) gave NIU a 1-0 victory. The Huskies hosted their home opener, Sept. 13, falling to the Ramblers, 2-0.

Schmitt scored her first goal of the season after receiving an assist from Kelly Mullany (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) and Annie Wyer (Geneva, IL/Community) in the Huskies 1-0 win. In the match-up against Edwardsville, goalkeeper Lindsey Curnock (Batavia, IL/Batavia) recorded her 27th-career shutout, tying the Mid-American Conference career shutout record.

Head women's soccer coach Carrie Barker is looking forward to finishing non-conference play at home this weekend.

"It's great to be back at home," Barker said. "We've been on the road a lot and we're all excited to play an entire weekend at home."

This weekend's match-ups will be the first meetings between NIU and each of the teams. Oakland enters this Friday's contest with a 2-4 record on the season. In their most recent match-up the Golden Grizzlies fell to Michigan, 3-0. Liberty enters the weekend with a 1-4 record on the season with a match-up against Valparaiso Friday before they take on the Huskies.

Friday's contest marks the second of seven consecutive home games for the Huskies.