Zip_ME87

Also, unfortunately, a team that is 1-4-1 on the road doesn't look very appealing to get an at-large bid that likely puts them in a noncompetitive position on the road from the start.

Found a way to win on the road at tourney time in 2018. 2019 and 2021 different story.

I don’t want to hear any excuses about having a tough MAC schedule with the final 2 games on the road. Had our Zips taken care of business AT HOME v Georgia State, we would be in the 2021 MAC Tournament. No excuse for losing that game. Georgia State had to play us with the same small turnaround time, and they were on the road!

Great postseason run 2018 but not good regular season. Of course, how you finish a season means more than how you start.

Unfortunately, I think it has been here for a long time and has not been warranted in sometime. definitely wasn’t warranted during 2019 or even 2018 regular season.

👍🏼

During that 🦨 2019 season, I never imagined we could go lower. Not making the MAC Tourney is lowest of low. Embarrassing.

I’m afraid a no longer warranted arrogant attitude has permeated Zips Mens Soocer. Not good! 🤢

You can’t count the 2020 Season that took place in Spring 2021…the team was ravaged by COVID. But, 0-7 to start 2019, and only 1 road win this season…ugh!!! The 💩 show at blOSU and then whatever this was today are just inconceivable!!! WVU was a much better opponent, and the Zips shut them down. How does this team give up 4 goals v WMU? Where were our Zips?!!!

💩 show on the road this season. WTF?

FOCUS…2021!!!

Some very good observations in this thread. I would add that we have not had a consistent lineup in some time from one season to the next. Lots of new players and players playing new positions.

It is at 3 pm ET as stated on GoZips.com. ET = Eastern Time https://gozips.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule NIU website shows 2 pm as in 2 pm local ... CT. https://niuhuskies.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule

I'm not certain, but as I recall, the MAC doesn't follow usual soccer tiebreakers. However, I have not looked for the listing of MAC Men's Soccer tiebreakers. Edit: If Wikipedia is correct about the 2019 MAC Tourney 2nd and 3rd seeds, then goal differential will be used.

It's going to be tough to win out, but not impossible. Our players have to show up with every ounce of grit they have at both NIU and WMU and stay completely focused on each game. As far as a tie between WVU and Akron, I think the tie breaker may come down to the team who has had the longest since they hosted. If that is the tiebreaker and that scenario occurs, the MAC Tourney host would go to WVU. Akron last hosted in 2019; WVU last hosted in 2018.

MAC Men's Soccer Standings through 10/23/21 MAC Record Points Games Remaining NIU 3-0-2 11 Akron Akron 2-1-1 7 at NIU, at WMU BUGS 2-1-1 7 WMU, at WVU GA St 2-2-0 6 at WVU, GA So WVU 1-1-1 4 GA St, at GA So, BUGS WMU 1-3-0 3 at BUGS, Akron GA So 0-3-1 1 WVU, at GA St

So proud of our Zips and the energy with which they played tonight. Keep it going Zips! Great leadership, Captain Strachan!!!

Current Standings: Team Pts Remaining Conf matches N. Ill (2-0-2) 8 At GA State, vs Akron B.G. (2-0-1) 7 at Akron, vs W. Mich,, at West Virginia Ga State (2-1-0) 6 N. Ill, at WVU, vs Ga Southern Akron (1-1-1) 4 BG, at N. Ill , at W, Mich WVU (1-1-1) 4 vs Ga State, at Ga southern, vs BG Ga Southern (0-2-1) 1 vs w mich, vs WVU , at Ga state W. Mich (0-3-0) 0 at Ga Southern, at BG, vs Akron

GA Southern 1 Northern Illinois 1 Final

AKRON BATTLES BOWLING GREEN ON SENIOR NIGHT IN KEY MAC SHOWDOWN SEVEN ZIPS NEAR END OF THEIR HOME AKRON CAREERS The Zips' contest versus Bowling Green on Friday, Oct. 22, will mark the final home Mid-American Conference games in the careers of seniors Samuel George(Dagenham, England), Will Meyer, Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon, Portugal), Hazem Sobhyand Daniel Strachan (Lakewood, Ohio), as well as junior Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and redshirt sophomore Ivan Nikolic(Toronto, Ontario). Going to miss all of these guys. Really sorry to see Carlo and Ivan leaving early. We still have games remaining, but I want to wish all of these guys the best now and always!!!

Congratulations to our Zips on a well-played game last night...first home game I've missed since 2016 when I went to Europe. (You got me @fknbuflobo. Ugh.) I watched on the ESPN app while attending the USA v CRC men's WC Qualifier in Columbus (thanks Columbus Crew / Lower.com Field for the free wifi)...the only sporting event (USMNT WCQ or WC game) that could take me away from our Zips Men's Soccer team. Great night for the USA Men and Zips Men's Soccer with each getting 2-1 wins and DeAndre Yedlin getting into the US match for significant minutes. Keep it going Zips! Go Zips!!! Go USA!!!

Me, too! This team is loaded with individual talent. I know it's young, and I may be expecting too much, but last night was hard to take. Folks can say it was one game, but it was 1 of only 6 MAC games (17% of the MAC schedule), and it was at home. I've been to Northern Illinois; it's a tough place to play even when they are bad. N Ill beat WVU 2-0 yesterday. WMU is not an easy place to play either. BUGS looks strong this year. They will be a tough challenge, and you can bet their fans will show up in droves given their success this year, including the "2020 Season". That one may feel more like a BG home match if we don't match their turn out. There is no given that we will be one of the top 4 MAC regular season teams. Squandering a MAC home match is ugly!

Adam O'Connell was manning the ticket office last night. Also, great guy! I hope you're correct that we will have better performances down the line. I had high hopes for this season but have been disappointed thus far in games such as this one. We can still get hot and go on a nice run, but so far we've seen on and off play rather than progression. It doesn't seem we put our players in the best position to be successful. I don't know how much of that comes from player unavailability due to injury or player loyalty. Coaching decisions are tough, but the best players should play where they are most effective.