Sports
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Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016
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Football starts its 3rd quarterback
surrounding both schools. As winners of the previous seven matches, including a 59-41 shootout victory Oct. 10 last season, the Huskies hold a 7-1 record overall in the battle of The Bronze Stalk, losing only in the inaugural battle in 2008. Riley Neal, Ball State sophomore quarterback, looks to build on his career day from last season against the Huskies when he completed 31 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns — all career highs for Neal. The battle for The Bronze Stalk begins at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and will broadcast on ESPN 3 as well as WLBK-AM 1360/FM 98.9, AM 560 The Answer for Chicago frequencies and on the TuneIn radio application.
Scott Nicol Sports editor
DeKALB | The Huskies (0-4) will start their third different quarterback in just the fifth game of the season 2:30 p.m. Saturday when they travel to Muncie, Indiana, to open Mid-American Conference play against the Ball State University Cardinals. Redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Maddie will be taking the reins from sophomore quarterback Ryan Graham after Maddie came into the game late in the third quarter against Western Illinois University Saturday. Maddie sparked the offense, leading the Huskies on a 10-play 75-yard drive after being inserted into the game, giving them an opportunity for a comeback. “When Maddie was in [the game], the offense was much more productive,” Head Coach Rod Carey said at Tuesday’s press conference. “Graham certainly did not play bad. He made the right reads and did the right things; the offense just wasn’t productive with him. In the end, at the quarterback spot, the offense needs to be productive when you’re on the field.” Maddie, after missing the entire 2015 season for back surgery, converted into a wide receiver over the summer because of depth at the quarterback position. When redshirt senior quarterback Drew Hare went down for the majority of this season with
Maddie’s career 2014: • Nine games played • 201 rushing yards • One rushing touchdown • 20 completions • 227 passing yards
Atlee Hargis | Northern Star
Redshirt senior quarterback Anthony Maddie switched from wide receiver back to quarterback after redshirt senior quarterback Drew Hare was injured Sept. 10 against University of South Florida.
an ankle and hamstring injury against University of South Florida Sept. 10, Maddie moved back to the quarterback position, Carey said at Tuesday’s press conference.
The Huskies look to win their seventh consecutive MAC West title as conference play opens and have gone 44-4 in the past six years in conference play.
Saturday will be NIU’s only trophy game of the regular season for the ninth annual battle of The Bronze Stalk, a trophy honoring the agricultural regions
2015: • Missed entire season due to back surgery 2016: • Two games played • 41 rushing yards • 11 completions • 142 passing yards • One passing touchdown
Volleyball seeks consistency Women’s soccer aims to win 3rd straight
Danielle Brown Staff writer
DeKALB | The women’s volleyball team (10-4, 2-0 MAC) will head to Michigan as it faces Central Michigan University (7-7, 0-2 MAC) and Eastern Michigan Unviersity (6-9, 1-1 MAC) Friday and Saturday, respectively. The team is coming off of a MAC home opener at Victor E. Court Thursday, defeating Western Michigan University (5-10, 0-2 MAC) in four sets, (23-25, 25-13, 25-15, 25-19). NIU defeated Bowling Green State University Saturday (10-5, 0-2 MAC) in four sets, (25-14, 25-15, 16-25, 25-16). Head Coach Ray Gooden said in order for the team to keep up its success, it will have to play consistent volleyball. “Both teams [we play] against are young, talented and energetic, so it’s our goal not to play upand-down but play consistently,” Gooden said. The Huskies have been improving on their consistency; there are really good moments and then ones that aren’t so good. The team struggled to find consistent rhythm at the start of its game against Western Michigan last weekend but played more in sync towards the end. Overall, the goal for women’s volleyball is to play each game consistently all the way through, Gooden said. Although this team has an excellent record so far, Gooden said he feels there is plenty of room for
Krystal Ward Staff writer
Atlee Hargis | Northern Star
Redshirt senior middle blocker Lauren Zielinski (middle) celebrates a point during a game against Bowling Green State University Saturday.
improvement in every aspect of the game, but the team is in a solid place right now. Last weekend, the team excelled on defense when sophomore middle blocker Meg Wolowicz acquired 10 blocks along with 10 kills to attain her first career double-double. The team totaled 15 blocks against Bowling Green. The Huskies’ defense has been winning games for the team. Coach Gooden said this is something the team has been working hard at during practice. The Huskies look to bring forth this consistency and strong defense 6 p.m. Friday in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, against Central Michigan before they play at 4 p.m. Saturday when they travel to Ypsilanti, Michigan to battle Eastern Michigan.
MAC games 7 p.m. Oct. 7 Ball State University, home 7 p.m. Oct. 8 University of Toledo, home 7 p.m. Oct. 14 University of Buffalo, home 7 p.m. Oct. 15 University of Akron, home 6 p.m. Oct. 21 Ohio University, away TBA Oct. 22 Kent State University, away 6 p.m. Oct. 27 Western Michigan University, away
DeKALB | Women’s soccer (34-2, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) will play 3 p.m. Friday in Kent, Ohio, against the Kent State University Golden Flashes (6-1-0, 2-0 MAC). The Huskies are coming off two victories last weekend to begin MAC play. NIU ended the unbeaten streak of the Central Michigan Unviersity Chippewas Friday, formerly one of three undefeated NCAA teams and won again Sunday against the Eastern Michigan University Eagles. Kent State is on a six-game winning streak and defeated NIU 7-3 in the last meeting between the two squads. NIU sophomore forward Taylor Sarver gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. Less than two minutes later, Jenna Hellstrom, Kent State senior forward evened the score. The Golden Flashes took a 4-1 lead into halftime. Donavan Capehart, Kent State midfielder and forward, scored three goals in the second half to seal the victory for the Golden Flashes. Kent State is second in the MAC with 1.5 assists per game and 1.25 goals allowed per game. The Golden Flashes are 11th in the conference in offsides (1.75) and fouls (10.50) and tied for
11th in saves (5.50). After playing Kent State, the Huskies will take on Ohio University (2-6-1, 0-2 MAC) noon Sunday in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats are on a fourgame losing streak but defeated NIU in double-overtime in the teams’ last meeting Oct. 2. Former freshman forward Stephanie Rowland scored a goal in the 105th minute to secure the victory for Ohio. The Bobcats are tied for second in the MAC in assists (1.33) and saves (6.83), and tied for fourth in goals (1.83) while sitting last in fouls (6.33). NIU is 12th in the MAC in assists and goals, averaging 0.33 per game for both. The Huskies are fifth in the conference in saves (5.50) and tied for fourth in shutouts (0.33). Junior goalkeeper Amy Annala has an 84 percent save percentage with four shutouts on the season. The match against Kent State will take place at Zoeller Field, and Sunday’s game against Ohio will be at Chessa Field.
Opponent game results Kent State University: 1-0 win against Bowling Green State University Ohio University: 2-1 loss against University of Toledo