02-06-2012, 03:17 PM
Northern Illinois - NIU may not be the first team that comes to mind when you think of the Mid-American Conference but they did set the conference on its ear in 2011 when they won the MAC Tourney and made the program’s third trip to the NCAA Tourney.
You have to like the direction the program is taking under the direction of head coach Eric Luzzi. The Huskies were 15-6-0 in 2011 matching the highest single-season win total in school history. Luzzi stated, “It isn’t easy to get a team in the NCAA Tournament and now our expectation is, moving forward we are going to be an NCAA Team every year.”
Success tends to breed success as reflected in the fact that Luzzi has added an eight member 2012 recruiting class that maintains NIU’s ties with the talent rich Chicago area while also going out of state to sign several very promising newcomers who should help the Huskies achieve their goal of returning to the NCAA Tourney. The 2012 class includes highly regarded center midfielder Gabe Christianson from Cedar Rapids, Iowa as well a midfielder Charlie Oliver who played for the Chicago Fire Academy team. The Huskies also return a solid core from the 2011 team including junior forward James Stevenson (6g, 3a) and senior goalkeeper Jordan Godsey.
NIU is a talented team but the factor that may separate them from the pack is a work ethic that often gives them the edge in the close contests. NIU belongs on the short list of programs for which the trend line looks to be heading upward.
You have to like the direction the program is taking under the direction of head coach Eric Luzzi. The Huskies were 15-6-0 in 2011 matching the highest single-season win total in school history. Luzzi stated, “It isn’t easy to get a team in the NCAA Tournament and now our expectation is, moving forward we are going to be an NCAA Team every year.”
Success tends to breed success as reflected in the fact that Luzzi has added an eight member 2012 recruiting class that maintains NIU’s ties with the talent rich Chicago area while also going out of state to sign several very promising newcomers who should help the Huskies achieve their goal of returning to the NCAA Tourney. The 2012 class includes highly regarded center midfielder Gabe Christianson from Cedar Rapids, Iowa as well a midfielder Charlie Oliver who played for the Chicago Fire Academy team. The Huskies also return a solid core from the 2011 team including junior forward James Stevenson (6g, 3a) and senior goalkeeper Jordan Godsey.
NIU is a talented team but the factor that may separate them from the pack is a work ethic that often gives them the edge in the close contests. NIU belongs on the short list of programs for which the trend line looks to be heading upward.
That Much!!!