Senior Juan Hoyos scored in the 81st minute to lift the Northern Illinois men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory Sunday over Gonzaga and give the Huskies the Northwestern Lakeside Classic tournament championship.
“It’s always good to get the result, especially against atough team like Gonzaga,” NIU head coach Eric Luzzi said. “They made itdifficult on us at times, and our guys did well to keep a level of intensity and work rate throughout the match.”
Hoyos lofted a header over Gonzaga keeper Ryan Caballero after receiving a long pass from Francis Otira. Caballerro, who made six saves in the match, came off his line in an attempt to stop the attack. Hoyos’ header floated over the keeper and took one bounce into the net.
“It was good to see Juan get back on track with the goal,”Luzzi said. “Francis was our top player all weekend, and a lot of credit for our success this weekend goes to him.”
Otira’s effort, which included the game-winning goal againstthe Crusaders, earned him tournament most valuable player honors. Hoyos, freshman James Stevenson and senior Kyle Knotek garnered recognition on the all-tournament team.
The Huskies won their third consecutive match and improvedto 3-2-1, now one-third of the way through the regular season. NIU swept their matches at the Northwestern Lakeside Classic, including a 2-1 win Friday versus Holy Cross.
“The guys played well, and it feels good to get a bit of our ‘get-it-done’ personality back,” Luzzi said. “Credit to Gonzaga, we were on the doorstep all day and it took 80-plus minutes to score.”
Northern Illinois pelted Caballero with 15 shots, including four on target from Stevenson. Midfielder Gael Rivera, also a freshman, accounted for the other two attempts on target. Gonzaga totaled only six shots in the match.
The shot margin was most lopsided in the first half, when the Huskies took eight chances to Gonzaga’s one. The Bulldogs, who fell to 2-3-0, managed five shots in the second period, but failed to force NIU keeper Jordan Godsey to make a save.
The Huskies return to action Friday, Sept. 24, at Bradley.
For more information on NIU men’s soccer and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
Date posted: September 20, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Hoyos scores late as Huskies win Lakeside Classic
The NIU Philharmonic, under the direction of conductor Lucia Matos, will present its first concert of the fall semester at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, in Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, located in the Music Building.
Selections on the program are Felix Mendelssohn’s “Overture to Die schone Melusine, Op. 32,” Robert Schumann’s “Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120,” and Antonin Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104,” with NIU School of Music cello professor Cheng-Hou Lee as soloist.
Cheng-Hou Lee
Lee was an assistant to Paul Katz for five years at both Rice University (master of music in chamber music) and New England Conservatory of Music, where he has completed all but his dissertation for the doctor of musical arts degree. He holds both the bachelor’s and master’s of music degrees in cello performance from the Juilliard School.
He joined the Avalon String Quartet in 2006. The quartet is in residence at NIU, a position formerly occupied by the distinguished Vermeer Quartet. As a part of their residency, the quartet members perform four programs annually in DeKalb and Chicago, and the members teach individual studios and coach chamber music at the school. This follows previous residencies at the Juilliard School and at Indiana University South Bend.
Lee has worked with Yo-Yo Ma, Harvey Shapiro, Janos Starker and Mistilav Rostropovich. He won the Chi-Mei Foundation Award for Outstanding Talents, a career grant from the Quanta Computer Education Foundation, and twice won the National Cello Competition in Taiwan. He has performed with Ruth Laredo, William Bolcom, the Omega Ensemble and the Boromeo and Miami quartets. He also has appeared at the Cape Cod, Newburyport and Ravinia Festivals, and on WQXR radio in New York City.
Lucia Matos
Brazilian-born NIU Philharmonic conductor Matos is also music director of the NIU Opera Workshop. She has appeared with numerous orchestras in the United States and abroad, and her first commercially distributed CD, with the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, was released in 2007 by Cala Records.
Also intensively involved with opera, Lucia Matos has conducted several productions at Opera Illinois and was a semi-finalist at the 2007 Bela Bartok International Opera Conducting Competition. She studied conducting with Henrique Gregori at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas and, after graduating, was assistant conductor for two professional orchestras in Brazil (Sinfonica Municipal de Campinas and Orquestra da UNICAMP).
In 1998, Matos was awarded a fellowship to continue her studies in the United States. She received a master of music and doctor of musical arts from the University of Iowa, studying with William LaRue Jones. From 2003 to 2008, Lucia she was the orchestra director at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
For more information, contact Lynn Slater at (815) 753-1546 or lslater@niu.edu.
Date posted: September 20, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Cheng-Hou Lee to perform Dvorak cello concerto with NIU Philharmonic during Sept. 29 concert
Foursquare is a location-based social networking site, mobile phone application and game.
Users can “check in” to venues, share where they are with friends, look back on the history of where they have been and share tips and information about their favorite places. The app is designed to be a city guide that encourages participants to be adventurous and explore their surrounding community – and beyond.
What does this mean for NIU?
This partnership provides the campus with unique and exciting opportunities. Everyone in the NIU community can vie for campus “mayorships” (individuals with the most check-ins become that venue’s mayor), earn badges, add tips, complete to-do lists and, most importantly, build community on campus. All users are encouraged to add tips about favorite campus spots and venues, showcasing hidden treasures at the university.
Each building on campus, as well as various commons areas, have been added to the foursquare site and are eligible for check-ins. In addition, individuals can check into NIU from anywhere on campus.
Plans are in the works to create rewards for mayors of various campus locations. Also, foursquare will be enabling five special university badges for users with specified quantities of check-ins at venues tagged as libraries, sports stadiums, commons areas and campus cafes/dining halls.
Foursquare has been very diligent to provide information regarding the privacy of its users. Details on how information is shared are available. A chart which itemizes public vs. private information and how specific privacy settings can be controlled also is provided.
A Foursquare account can be tied to Facebook and Twitter accounts to share with friends on other platforms. However, the option is there to go ‘”off the grid” if you don’t want to share too much information, and posting to Facebook and Twitter can be turned on and off.
“This application is a great way to let friends know where you are while earning points, badges, and mayorships. Foursquare is also a perfect tool to spread the word about exciting events on campus and to encourage other people to join in,” says Holly Nicholson, social media specialist for NIU Web Communications. “We are excited about his new venture with Foursquare and are looking forward to the possibilities ahead of us.”
Date posted: September 17, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Check in! Foursquare ready for NIU ‘mayors’
Seniors of the Huskie women's soccer team. From left: Annie Wyer, Christen Schuler, Kaitlin Bujak, Kylie Revelle and Mo Smunt.
The Northern Illinois women’s soccer team will wrap up its non-conference schedule with a pair of home contests this weekend when the Huskies host SIU-Edwardsville today and Green Bay come Sunday, Sept. 19.
The Cardinal and Black will kick-off the weekend at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex at 4 p.m. today against the Cougars, before celebrating 2010 Senior Day at the Huskies’ 1 p.m. Sunday contest against Green Bay.
“It is a special weekend for many reasons,” said NIU head women’s soccer coach Carrie Barker. “We have two more opportunities to compete before conference play.”
In the first match-up of the weekend, the Huskies (2-3-0) will look to snap the Cougars six-game unbeaten streak as they face Southern Illinois Edwardsville (5-0-1) for just the second time in program history. In the first meeting, the Huskies edged out SIUE in a 1-0 overtime victory Sept. 11, 2009, at Korte Stadium.
NIU will then host Green Bay in its final non-conference match Sunday before opening Mid-American Conference play. Green Bay (2-2-2) enters the weekend after splitting games last weekend, recording a 4-0 win over Northern Iowa, before dropping a 1-0 decision to South Dakota State. The Huskies hold a 6-5-2 all-time advantage, with a 4-2-0 record, at home against the Phoenix.
“This class is unique and special. They’re great role models both in the classroom and on the field,” Barker said.
Prior to Sunday’s whistle, five seniors will be honored fo their hard work as Huskies during the past few years. They include:
The Huskies will take action on the road next weekend when they travel to Toledo, Ohio, to open MAC play Friday, Sept. 24, against the Rockets. NIU will return home for the first match of a three-game homestand Sunday, Sept. 26, when the Huskies face Ball State at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
For more information on NIU women’s soccer and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
Date posted: September 17, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Huskie women’s soccer wraps non-conference schedule, celebrates Senior Day this weekend
The NIU College of Law Second Amendment Society will host a FOID card drive from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, and Thursday, Sept. 23, in the Thurgood Marshall Gallery of Swen Parson Hall.
Society members will take individuals’ pictures, have forms available to fill out and mail the applications.
Date posted: September 16, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Law school’s Second Amendment Society to host FOID card application event Sept. 22, Sept. 23
In conjunction with the NIU Art Museum exhibition “StAGEs of Transition,” poets and poetry enthusiasts will read their original or favorite poems about aging and stages of life during a poetry recital from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in Altgeld Hall Room 315.
To register to read, call (815) 753-1936 or e-mail darntzen@niu.edu. Pre-registration is required to read; readers must be age 14 or older. ON StAGE is open to the public.
Located on the west-end first floor of Altgeld Hall, the galleries are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and by appointment for group tours. Exhibitions and lectures are free; donations are appreciated.
Pay parking is available in the Visitor’s Lot on Carroll Avenue and at metered spots in front of Altgeld Hall. Free parking is available on Saturdays and during receptions and visiting artist lectures in the lot northeast of Gilbert and College drives.
The exhibitions of the NIU Art Museum are funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, the Friends of the NIU Art Museum, and the Arts Fund 21.
For more information, visit www.niu.edu/artmuseum or call (815) 753-1936. Friends also can join the group on Facebook or follow the museum on Twitter.
Date posted: September 15, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Art Museum presents ‘ON StAGE’ poetry reading
In front of a jam-packed, raucous standing room only crowd of 954, the Northern Illinois volleyball team had its 11-match winning streak snapped by Wisconsin, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18, on Tuesday night at Victor E. Court.
In a tilt between undefeated teams, the Badgers remained so at 10-0, while the Huskies’ record took their first blemish of the year, falling to 11-1.
“I would like to personally thank all the supporters tonight that created an incredible environment,” Coach Ray Gooden said of the first sellout in Victor E. Court’s nine-year history. “It was one of the best experiences that I’ve been a part of in this gym.”
The best start in school history, and longest winning streak since 2001, came to a close at the hands of the man who once owned the mark — former Huskie head coach (1988-98) and current Badger head coach Pete Waite, who has the most wins in NIU history (266-102) and led the Huskies to six conference championships and four NCAA Tournaments.
In his first trip back to DeKalb, Waite’s Badgers stifled the Huskies all night long, holding edges in kills (43-34), hitting percentage (.326-.158), aces (6-1), digs (37-33), and blocks (7-6).
“A big credit to Pete’s team and their ability to make it difficult for us to score points tonight,” said Gooden, who ranks second (140-122) behind Waite on the NIU all-time in wins list. “For every one point we scored, they were able to score two. This was the first time that we have really experienced that all season.”
Freshman outside hitter Lauren Wicinski (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) led the Huskies with 15 kills and a .294 hitting percentage, while junior setter Kristin Hoffman (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) picked up 31 assists and five digs.
With just four lead changes all night, the Huskies played from behind and struggled to keep up with Wisconsin. In the first set, NIU held a 2-1 lead after a bad set by the Badgers, but that was quickly turned around into a 7-4 Badger lead after three Huskie errors helped give Wisconsin momentum. The Huskies closed within one point two times in the middle of the set, but the Badgers had an answer both times.
NIU also took a 2-1 lead in the second set after a Wicinski kill. However, the Badgers once again responded promptly to take a 7-4 lead after an ace, and the Huskies would not get closer than two points for the rest of the set.
In the final stanza, NIU scored the first three points on kills by Wicinski and Mary Kurisch and a Wisconsin error. But the advantage was short lived as the Badgers went on a 10-3 run to force NIU into a timeout. Later, down 19-12, the Huskies called another timeout that led to a 5-2 run. NIU received kills two kills from junior outside hitter Allison McGlaughlin (Morton, Ill./Morton), who also teamed with freshman middle blocker Sarah Angelos (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) for two blocks during the run. An ace from sophomore defensive specialist Sue Hayes (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley) pulled NIU within four points, 21-17, and forced Wisconsin to take a timeout. Out of the break in action, Hayes missed on a serve and the Badgers took back momentum to end the match.
“It’s a tremendous learning experience for our group,” said Gooden, who now owns an 81-49 record at Victor E. Court. “To prepare us for conference, we need to learn to play volleyball at a level similar to the Wisconsins and College of Charlestons of our schedule. The result was not what we were looking for, but it will help us grow.”
The Huskies continue their season-long, seven-match home stand this weekend with a 1 p.m. contest Saturday, Sept. 18, against Youngstown State and a 3 p.m. tilt Sunday, Sept. 19, with Iowa.
For more information on NIU volleyball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
Date posted: September 15, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Huskies set Victor E. Court attendance record
Tonight, something has to give — but only for one of the teams on the floor.
The 11-0 Huskies volleyball squad will look to keep up their best start in program history against the 9-0 Badgers in NIU’s first home match against a Big Ten opponent since 2007.
As NIU opens a season-long, seven-match home stand at 7:30 p.m tonight on Victor E. Court inside the NIU Convocation Center, the two teams have more than just an unblemished record in common. Both feature the top two wins leaders in NIU history.
Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite once fronted the Huskies and will make his first trip back to DeKalb. From 1988-98, Waite led the NIU to six conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances, compiling a 266-102 record, which ranks at the top of the program’s all-time wins list. Waite’s counterpart, NIU head coach Ray Gooden, ranks second all-time with a 140-121 mark as a Huskie.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early tonight. NIU students will be admitted free with a valid NIU OneCard. General admission for adults is $5, while children get in for $3.
NIU returns home after a very successful 6-0 road trip that saw the Huskies pick up their second and third invitational titles of the season.
Over the weekend, NIU defeated Elon (3-1), Liberty (3-0), and Stetson (3-0) to claim the Elon Classic, and continued to dominate its opponents. In winning 33 of 37 sets this season, the Huskies have held an edge in every match over their foes in hitting percentage (.297-.160), kills (533-371), digs (531-423), and aces (93-24). NIU’s longest winning streak since 2001 has seen the Huskies come out victorious in eight three-set matches, two four-set, and one five-set.
Just like the Huskies, Wisconsin heads south after winning its third straight tournament. The Badgers won the Milwaukee Invitational last weekend, defeating Milwaukee (3-1) and a pair of Mid-American Conference foes Central Michigan (3-1) and Toledo (3-1).
“It’s been great,” Gooden said. “It’s nice for us to come to a different part of the country and do some positive things.”
For the 11th time this year, the Huskies held advantages over their opponent in hitting percentage (.250-.147), kills (49-28), and digs (51-36). NIU also topped the Hatters (1-9) in aces (8-1) and blocks (4-2).
Freshman outside hitter Lauren Wicinski (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) led the Huskies with 13 kills, 12 digs, and an ace for her fifth double-double. For her weekend performance, Wicinski earned her third consecutive all-tournament selection as she totaled team-highs of 44 points (4.40/set) and 38 kills (3.80/set), along with 22 digs (2.20/set) and five aces (0.50/set).
Joining Wicinski on the all-tournament team for the second occasion this season was Mary Kurisch, who tallied eight kills and a .467 hitting percentage with two blocks and an ace against Stetson. Her totals for the tournament include 26.5 points (2.65.set), 18 kills (1.80/set), a team-high seven blocks (0.70/set), and five aces (0.50/set).
The reason Wicinski and Kurisch were able to have successful weekends was due large in part to tournament MVP Kristin Hoffman (Batavia, Ill./Batavia). The junior setter notched 32 assists, seven digs, and an ace in the final match of the Elon Classic. Under Hoffman’s guidance, the NIU offense held significant edges in kills (136-101) and hitting percentage (.235-.146). For the tournament, Hoffman totaled 94 assists (9.40/set), 19 digs (1.90/set), 11 points (1.10/set), six kills (0.60/set), four blocks (0.40/set), and three aces (0.30/set).
“Our whole team did a solid job,” Gooden said. “Mary did a good job in the middle. Lauren led our team in points and did a good job of serving. Kristin was the one running the offense — she ran a really good offense over the weekend.”
Meghan Romo also reached double figures in kills against the Hatters with 11 on 22 swings for a .455 hitting percentage, adding two blocks to boot. Senior libero Maddie Hughes (St. Charles, Ill./North) led the defense with 14 digs.
For more information on NIU volleyball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
Date posted: September 14, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Undefeated Huskie volleyball team plays tonight against undefeated Wisconsin, former NIU coach
Students looking for advanced degree options, career-related work experience prior to graduation or to jump-start their employment plans are encouraged to review the Fall 2010 schedule of NIU Career Fairs.
First in the lineup of fairs is the second annual Graduate & Professional School Fair. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center. This fair invites students to explore more than 50 university graduate level programs and showcases resources available to assist with the application process. There are no admission requirements, and dress is casual.
The Internship Fair is Wednesday, Oct. 6, and the Job Fair is Wednesday, Oct. 20. Both fairs are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are hosted at the NIU Convocation Center. Admission to the Job Fair is free for NIU students, $5 for alumni and $10 for any non-NIU participants. Admission to the Internship Fair is free to all.
A résumé is required at the registration table for admittance to each fair. These are premier events for NIU students, providing opportunities to meet face-to-face with a wide array of potential full-time and internship employers prior to graduation. A convenient shuttle service will be available for the Job Fair and the Internship Fair. The shuttle will run from the Holmes Student Center’s east door (Normal Road) to the Convocation Center.
The last career fair is the Health Professions Job Fair, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1. The fair will be held in the Duke Ellington Ballroom of the Holmes Student Center. This fair will be an excellent opportunity for any student looking to work within the health field.
The Internship, Job and Health Professions Fairs provide students the experience of approaching employers and presenting themselves as prospective employees in their chosen fields. Students should bring plenty of résumés to leave with the employers they meet. Dress for each event is business attire.
These events are some of the region’s largest collegiate career fairs. More than 200 employers attend, looking to hire interns and upcoming graduates enrolled in any NIU major. Employer representatives provide students with information about job openings, internships and the interview process.
Students are encouraged to research participating employers/exhibitors before the career fairs, either online or at the Career Resource Center.
Information about the fairs, career fair preparation workshops, finding a job or an internship, writing a résumé or preparing for an interview can be found at the NIU Career Services website. Students can schedule an appointment with a career counselor on NIU’s campus by calling (815) 753-1641.
The NIU Career Resource Center in the Campus Life Building, Room 235, provides walk-in student résumé critiques, practice interviews and job/internship search through its database system, Victor eRecruiting.
Date posted: September 14, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Four career-related fairs this autumn will provide NIU students with multiple career path options
The group was one of 77 chapters to receive the Silver Torch Award, presented to chapters meeting chapter management standards while exemplifying the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.
Chapter President Adam White and advisers Jonathon Ferguson and Emily Gamble were present to accept the chapter’s award.
Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Since its founding in 1918, the organization has grown from the four founding chapters to 228 chartered collegiate chapters with nearly a quarter of a million initiated members across the nation.
The Pleiades chapter at Northern Illinois University was chartered in 1971 and currently has 66 members. Chapter leaders also are launching a new NIU alumni group with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1.
Mortar Board provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to colleges and universities and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. Some notable Mortar Board members include distinguished politician Condoleezza Rice, Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees and Suzy’s Zoo creator Suzy Spafford.
Attention, freshmen: NIU has created an exciting new program called MAP-WORKS.
MAP-Works is a web-based survey tool designed to assist new freshmen with their transition into college life and to help them understand the steps necessary to persist towards graduation.
Beginning last week, and continuing periodically throughout your freshmen year, you will be e-mailed a link to an online survey. Simply answer a few questions, and the program will provide you with a personalized report detailing the specific steps you will need to take in order to reach your goals.
In addition to receiving an NIU gift for each survey you complete, there are other benefits as well. For example, students who completed the MAP-Works survey last year:
performed far better than students who chose not to participate in the program;
earned GPAs one point higher;
completed an additional course (or three more credit hours);
were less likely to be placed on academic probation;
benefitted from additional direct and individualized staff support and assistance.
John Rico, born and raised in Cabrini-Green and currently founder and CEO of Rico Enterprises, Inc., will present his “Entrepreneur Story” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23.
Rico has more than 25 years of experience in the information technology field and is committed to exploring the link between technology and education, as discussed in a feature dedicated to Rico in Hispanic Executive Quarterly. In 2008, Rico Enterprises, Inc. partnered with Scholastic Learning to provide support and service for software proven to meet the needs of struggling readers in Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
Rico also volunteers as a motivational speaker to CPS and throughout Illinois’ educational community.
His presentation will tell the story of his success — how the NIU Latino House began in 1975, how he started the first Hispanic technology company in the Midwest, his latest trip to the White House — and will provide a message of dedication and optimism. In his words, “I’m from Chicago. I’m born in Cabrini. If I can make it, anybody can make it.”
For more information, contact the Alumni Association at alums@niu.edu or call (815) 753-1452.
Date posted: September 13, 2010 | Author: Mark McGowan | Comments Off on Chicago entrepreneur John Rico to visit Sept. 23, give speech at Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center
Senior Juan Hoyos scored in the 81st minute to lift the Northern Illinois men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory Sunday over Gonzaga and give the Huskies the Northwestern Lakeside Classic tournament championship.
