By: Christopher Jehle
Athletics Communications Intern
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University men's soccer program will take on Purdue University Northwest and Davenport University this upcoming weekend, in the second week of GLIAC conference play.
The Wildcats face the Pride at 1 p.m. on Friday and the Panthers at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Both games will be played at the NMU Soccer Field.
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. Purdue Northwest
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20210924_idbz.xml
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/
Sunday VS. Davenport
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20210926_5fec.xml
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/
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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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LAST TIME OUT
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The Wildcats took on Saginaw to begin GLIAC conference play, in University Center, Mich. NMU came up short to the GLIAC preseason favorite, falling to the Cardinals 0-3.
Midfielder Ryan Palmbaum led the game with 4 shots over 90 minutes.
The Wildcats ended their weekend with a tie of 1-1 at Northwood University.
Palmbaum led the game with nine shots over 90 minutes and two overtimes.
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STAT LEADERS
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Junior Wildcat midfielder Ryan Palmbaum is tied for first in the conference in shots with 24 shots.
Palmbaum also leads NMU with 24 total shots, 8 shots on goal, and 1 assist.
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WILDCAT TALK
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"I thought it was a great weekend for us last week. It gave a lot of our student-athletes the opportunity to play one of the best teams in the conference, in a conference where almost everyone is pretty good," said head coach David Poggi.
"We also had an overtime match where we came out pretty well. We limited scoring chances as we have been in earlier matches," continued the head coach.
"Purdue Northwest went through a lot of adversity last season and found themselves at the top of the GLIAC late in the season and Davenport was the team that knocked us out of the playoffs last year. Both matches will be a real challenge for us and we will try to manage the game and engage them how we want to play," concluded Poggi.
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NMU VS PURDUE NORTHWEST
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Friday will be the seventh match between the Wildcats and the Pride, with the last match between the two resulting in a win for NMU at the beginning of the 2020-21 spring season. The Wildcats boast a winning record of 5-2 against Purdue Northwest.
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NMU VS DAVENPORT
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Sunday will be the eighth match between NMU and the Panthers, with the last match between the two coming in the GLIAC tournament during the 2020-21 spring season.
