By: Emily Jennings
Athletics Communications Intern
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University men's soccer program will take on Saginaw Valley State University and Northwood University to start Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play this weekend continuing the 2021 season.
The Wildcats face the Cardinals in University Center, Michigan at 1 p.m. on Friday and the Timberwolves Saturday at 3 p.m. in Midland, Mich.
WEEKLY NOTES
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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. Saginaw Valley
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20210917_d5a6.xml
Video: https://nmuwildcats.com/links/smwtwj
Sunday VS. Northwood
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20210919_27ua.xml
Video: https://nmuwildcats.com/links/x9x5c3
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PRESEASON POLL
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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.
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KEY RETURNERS
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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.
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STAT LEADERS
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Junior Wildcat goalkeeper Jonas Vorbau appears in the top five of the conference in three statistical categories for Men's Soccer.
Vorbau is second in the conference for saves and third in save percentage with 14 saves and a .875 save percentage so far this season for the Wildcats.
The keeper also has a .900 goals against average, which makes him fifth in the conference.
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LAST TIME OUT
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The Wildcats took on Lewis for the last non-conference game of the season. NMU came up short, falling to the Cardinals 0-2.
Palmbaum led the team in shots (5) and shots on goal (2) in the match.
Niko Scheibal, Noah Eklund, Aydin Lambert and Alex Weaver played all 90 minutes of the match.
Weaver had 3 saves in the net this weekend for the Wildcats.
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WILDCAT TALK
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"The Lewis match was a good test for us. They are a strong team and are in the top three in the GLVC right now. It was the kind of match that we will see against a team like Saginaw Valley this weekend," said coach David Poggi.
"I think we will be in good shape for the upcoming matches. It is a fun time of the year with all the student-athletes getting adjusted to returning. It will be good to get on the road and allow us to focus on the matches this weekend," concluded Poggi.
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NMU VS SAGINAW VALLEY
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Thursday will be the 11th match between the Wildcats and the Cardinals, The last match between the two was at the beginning of the 2020-21 spring season.
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NMU VS NORTHWOOD
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The Wildcats defeated the Timberwolves 1-0 last season in Marquette. The teams have faced each other 11 times.
