Sports
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Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016
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Golladay transfer proves favorable Patrick Smith Staff writer
DeKALB | The Huskies season hasn’t been going the way they would have hoped as they are staring the year in an 0-2 hole to start the 2016 campaign. They lost a triple overtime game to University of Wyoming in the opening week and were outplayed by University of South Florida last week, losing 48-17. Despite all this, Kenny Golladay, redshirt senior wide receiver, has still been a standout player for the Huskies. Last season, Kenny Golladay earned national recognition. He was a Second-Team All-MidAmerican Conference selection and was placed on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, which goes to the top receiver in Division I. He had 73 receptions totaling 1,129 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Golladay had the fifth best year of all time for an NIU wide receiver and the best statistical season from an NIU wide receiver since Justin McCareins totaled 1,168 yards in the 2000 season. “Only being here for two seasons and working to being the best receiver [I can be], I’m honored for people to recognize me in that way,” Golladay said. “Last season was still a learning experience for me. I felt like I could have [done] a whole lot better. I was still kind of getting my feet wet, and I feel like now I have a better understanding of the offense.” Golladay went to a powerhouse football school, St. Rita High School in Chicago, which has 26 Chicago Catholic League Championships in their history, but didn’t get a lot of playing time until his senior season. Golladay said it was
Atlee Hargis | Northern Star File Photo
Kenny Golladay, redshirt senior wide receiver, points for the first down during a game against Western Michigan University on Nov. 18, 2015.
primarily because of the team’s predominantly run-heavy offense, but his senior year his head coach began trusting him more which led to more touches for Golladay. Golladay wasn’t highly recruited out of St. Rita, but one team, North Dakota University did give him a chance and he’s quite appreciative of that. “North Dakota was my only offer,” Golladay said. “I was blessed with that offer; no other team was really looking my way. I fell under the radar but made the best out of
my situation.” Going from Chicago to North Dakota was a change, but Golladay saw some good in it. “Being from a big city like Chicago and going to North Dakota was definitely different,” Golladay said. “It’s a whole bunch of land and very cold in North Dakota, but I enjoy playing football no matter where it is. It was a great experience at North Dakota. I met some great people out there.” Kenny had some great success at North Dakota, catching 99 passes
for 1,313 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons. He made the most out of his opportunity and after a 3-8 season during his sophomore campaign, much of the coaching staff was let go and that led to Golladay’s decision to transfer, even if it meant sitting out a year. “I decided to say ’will I be able to get another scholarship playing two seasons at North Dakota?’” Golladay said. “I just wanted to weigh my options and see if any other schools wanted me and fortunately NIU
gave me a chance to come to this school. NIU jumped on the opportunity quick.” Kenny Golladay has 14 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns so far this season and is possibly poised to be in the NFL come April. “Making the NFL will definitely be a dream come true, but all I can do now is finish off this season strong and see what happens.” Golladay and the Huskies (0-2) have their home opener 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Huskie Stadium.
In-state battle to kick off Phi Sigma Kappa
wins with walk-off
Krystal Ward Staff writer
DeKALB | Women’s soccer (13-1) aims to get back on track against the Illinois State University Redbirds (3-5) 2 p.m. Sunday at the Soccer Complex.. The Redbirds shutout the University of North Dakota, 2-0, in their last matchup Sunday. Freshman forward Mikayla Unger and junior midfielder Emily Dickman scored the tallies for Illinois State. The Redbirds rank fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team ranks first in its conference in shots and second in goals against. Dickman and senior midfielder Lauren Koehl rank third and first in the conference with 19 and 31 shots, respectively. Freshman goalkeeper Haley Smith is third in the MVC with a 0.86 goals against average as well as third with a .800 save percentage while starting every game for the Redbirds this season. Amy Annala For the Hus- Huskies Junior kies, junior Goalkeeper goalkeeper Amy Annala ranks
Dre Range Columnist
Northern Star File Photo
Sophomore forward Taylor Sarver battles for control of the ball in a game against Toledo on Sept. 25, 2015 at the Soccer Complex in DeKalb. The Huskies went on to win the game 2-0.
third in the Mid-American Conference with 19 saves and is tied for fourth with two shutouts. The Huskies are last in the MAC with 24 shots, six points, two goals and two assists. The team is on a three-game losing streak, going scoreless in each of the last three contests. NIU’s last win was Aug. 28 against Western Illinois. In the teams’ last matchup in 2014, Illinois State beat the Huskies by a score of 4-1 in Annala’s Huskie debut as she finished with 11 saves.
NIU is sixth overall in the MAC West Division. The team lost its two games in Arizona last weekend against the University of Arizona and Arizona State University by a combined score of 5-0. Illinois State will take on Eastern Michigan University on Friday before its Sunday matchup against NIU. After Sunday’s game, the Huskies will begin conference play 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 against Central Michigan University at the Soccer Complex in DeKalb.
DeKALB | Week two of the fall 2016 intramural softball league saw a thrilling end between two Greek-League teams, Phi Kappa Psi (1-0) and Phi Sigma Kappa (10) that ended in a 14-13 win for Phi Sigma Kappa on a walk-off grand slam. Phi Kappa Psi came out hot early in the top of the first inning with eight runs and an RBI double in the second inning. Phi Sigma Kappa struggled with everything in their game plan early. In the bottom of the third inning, Phi Sigma Kappa started to make a little run while driving in two runs to cut the lead to 10-2. Phi Sigma Kappa’s defense improved, holding Phi Kappa Psi to a couple hits in the fourth and fifth innings. Going into the bottom of the sixth Phi Sigma Kappa started
off with two quick hits and a walk, loading the bases. With two sacrifice flies driving in two more runs to cut the lead to 10-8, Phi Kappa Psi still held the lead going into the seventh and final inning, getting their momentum back. Phi Kappa Psi added three more runs to the score with great hits at the plate to increase the lead to five points, 13-8. Entering the bottom of the seventh, Phi Sigma Kappa needed five points to tie and six to win. They came into the game with confidence, and it showed every time Phi Kappa Psi made a mistake, as the door opened for a comeback. Adding two quick runs onto the board Phi Sigma Kappa had a chance to win the game. With two outs and the bases load, junior Adam Nash hit a walk-off grand slam to seal the unlikely comeback for Phi Sigma Kappa. Phi Sigma Kappa goes into next week’s game rolling with a nice (20) start to the season, with a heartbreaking loss, hopefully Phi Kappa Psi (1-1) can pull together and bounce back from this unbelievable comeback from Phi Sigma Kappa.