MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University women's soccer team opens up the 2022 campaign with a pair of road games in the land of 10,000 lakes.
On Thursday (August 25), the 'Cats will be at St. Cloud State, as the season begins under the lights with a 7 p.m. start. NMU will then head to Minnesota Duluth on Saturday (August 27) when they face the Bulldogs at 2 p.m.
Follow Along
Fans can follow the action using live stats and video.
Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.
Thursday at St. Cloud State
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
Video: https://nsicnetwork.com/scsuhuskies/
Saturday at Minnesota Duluth
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
Video: https://nsicnetwork.com/umdbulldogs/
A Look at St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State is picked seventh in the NSIC Preseason Poll. A season ago, the Huskies finished 7-8-3. The two teams have each claimed four wins in eight contests when they have shared the field. Last season, the 'Cats defeated the Huskies 3-0 with goals from
Brooke Pietila and
Ashley Koch.
Shenae Kreps stopped all five shots in net.
A Look at Minnesota Duluth
The Bulldogs slotted in at 11th in the NSIC Preseason Poll. Last year, UMD went 3-12-3. The Wildcats are 3-8-2 against the Bulldogs. Last season, Northern won 5-1 behind goals from
Justina L'Esperance and
Isabelle Brusilow.
Preseason Poll
NMU enters the 2022 season picked No. 4 in the GLIAC Preseason Poll. The 'Cats are also receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Preseason Poll ahead of the new campaign, found
here.
Northern received 30 points in the GLIAC poll, narrowly edging Michigan Tech by a point. Reigning national champion Grand Valley State sits atop the poll with 49 points, followed by Ferris State (42) and Saginaw Valley State (35). NMU slots in at fourth, while Michigan Tech, Davenport, Parkside, and Purdue Northwest round out the poll, respectively.
2022 Roster Breakdown
The Wildcats 2022 roster consists of 37 players, with 24 returners and 13 incoming freshmen. Among the returners are three of their top five point scorers from a season ago including
Justina L'Esperance (18 points),
Ashley Koch (13 points), and
Brooke Pietila (13 points).
L'Esperance tallied seven goals and four assists her freshman year, including the game-winner at Michigan Tech in the GLIAC Quarterfinals. She finished first on the team in game-winning goals (3), tied for first on the team in shots on goal (27), and second on the team in goals (7) and points (18).
Koch finished third on the Wildcats last season with six goals on just 23 total shots. Pietila started all 20 games for NMU a season ago and tied for first with five assists.
Senior goalkeeper
Shenae Kreps returns for the 'Cats. Last season, Kreps started all 20 games for the Green and Gold, stopping 83 shots and posting a 1.45 GAA with a .741 save percentage. Sophomore
Sydney Lake and freshmen
Jillian Thompson,
Ava Wilberding, and
Lindsey Lumm round out the netminders for the Wildcats.
Other notable returners for the 'Cats include
Maria Storm (4 goals),
Brenna Musser (3 goals and 3 assists),
Isabelle Brusilow (3 goals), and upperclassmen
Rachael Erste,
Natalie Stampfly, and
Gwen Kiilunen to anchor the defense.
To view the 2022 roster, click
here.
A Season Ago
The Wildcats finished the 2021 season at 11-8-1 and 8-5-1 in the GLIAC. The Wildcats won their last three in the regular season and went on to defeat Michigan Tech 2-1 in the GLIAC Quarterfinals before falling at Grand Valley State 2-1 to end their season.
