BY: Emily Jennings

Athletics Communications Intern

MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University men's soccer team will be hosting Northwood University and Saginaw Valley State University at home this Wildcat Weekend.

The Wildcats play the Timberwolves at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and the Cardinals at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

WEEKLY NOTES

FOLLOW ALONG

Fans can follow the action using live stats and video.

Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.

Friday VS. Northwood

Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20211015_7jti.xml 

Video: https://nmuwildcats.com/links/0j1o2m 

Sunday VS. Saginaw Valley

Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20211017_nnnq.xml 

Video: https://nmuwildcats.com/links/0j1o2m 

PRESEASON POLL

After reaching the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) quarterfinals last spring, the Wildcats were pegged to finish fifth overall in the GLIAC preseason poll. 

KEY RETURNERS

The Wildcats return the majority of their squad from 2020-21, including four who received All-GLIAC recognition. Senior Kaffie Kurz was named to the All-Conference First Team last season, the first such honor of his career, while also being named 2021 Humanitarian of the Year by NMU for his leadership and charitable endeavors both on and off the pitch. 

Second-Team honorees Ryan Palmbaum and Niko Scheibal also return to the team this season. Palmbaum led the team in assists (4), shots on goal (15) and goals (3; tied) while Scheibal returns after leading a strong defensive corp in the spring. 

LAST TIME OUT

In a hard-fought match, the Wildcats defeated the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last weekend with a 2-1 win.

Within the first four minutes of play, senior forward Brady Kronenburg scored the first goal of the match, assisted by Kaffie Kurz. The second goal for the 'Cats was scored in the second half by Kronenburg as well, also assisted by Kurz.

Northern showed dominance as they led in shots on goal with a margin of 5-3.

Junior goalkeeper Alex Weaver manned the net for the full 90-minute match and earned his second win of the season. 

STAT LEADERS

Two Wildcats have worked their way onto the GLIAC leaderboard in five different statistical categories.

Junior midfielder Ryan Palmbaum is ranked second in the conference for total shots with a grand total of 39 shots taken.

Finding himself in the top five of four different statistical categories is junior goalkeeper Jonas Vorbau. He is fifth in the conference for both saves (23) and goals against average (1.49). He is also found in second place overall for goals against, with a total of 6. With a percentage of .793, Vorbau is ranked first in the conference for overall save percentage.

WILDCAT TALK

"Parkside is a really solid team. We played better than we did the last time we were out and we got a solid result because of that," said head coach David Poggi.

"We had a good attitude on the bench and on the field. The win brings us back to the starting line. We learned from our mistakes early in the season and we are working on continuing to improve."

"The two matches in a weekend are difficult for freshman and traveling teams," added Poggi. "It is nice for us to be home against two good teams on one of those weekends. These upcoming matches will help us continue to gain insight on what to do and what not to do moving forward."

NMU VS NORTHWOOD

NMU men's soccer has faced Northwood 11 times since the program first took to the field in 2016. The last time the 'Cats faced the Timberwolves was earlier in the season, and they tied them in a 1-1 match.

NMU VS SAGINAW VALLEY

The last time the Cardinals and the Wildcats faced off was earlier this year. Over the past five seasons, NMU men's soccer has faced Saginaw Valley ten times.