MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University women's soccer team (3-0-1) will begin GLIAC competition this weekend as they are on the road to take Parkside (3-1) and Purdue Northwest (0-3-1).
NMU will be in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Friday, September 9 to take on the Rangers as they kick off at 1 p.m. ET. On Sunday, September 11, the Wildcats will visit the PNW Pride with a noon ET start.
Follow Along
Fans can follow the action using live stats and video.
Follow @NMU_wsoccer and @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.
Friday at Parkside
Live Stats: nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
Video: flofc.com/live/45651
Sunday at Purdue Northwest
Live Stats: nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
Video: jedtv.com/pnw-athletics.html
A Look at Parkside
The Rangers have started the season 3-1. Alexis Baker leads the team with 3 goals and 7 points. NMU is 2-4-2 against Parkside, with a 4-0 win and 1-1 tie a season ago.
Brooke Pietila scored in each of those contests.
A Look at Purdue Northwest
The Pride are 0-3-1 this season. NMU is 7-1 against PNW and outscored them 11-0 in two contests last season.
Brenna Musser scored three goals in those matches.
L'Esperance Leading the Way
Justina L'Esperance has led NMU to a 3-0-1 start this season. She has scored in each of NMU's four games this year while also adding an assist. She leads the GLIAC with 4 goals and 9 points. In each of the first two weeks to start the season, L'Esperance has been named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Six players in the GLIAC have scored multiple goals. L'Esperance and teammates
Brenna Musser,
Caitlyn Trombley, and
Hannah Kastamo are among that group. Musser also is tied for the lead in assists with three.
Last Week
The Green and Gold played two at home, as they tied No. 9 Bemidji State 3-3 and beat Minnesota Crookston 6-0.
Justina L'Esperance scored in each game,
Hannah Kastamo scored twice for her first career goals, and
Brenna Musser added three assists.
Preseason Poll
NMU entered the 2022 season picked No. 4 in the GLIAC Preseason Poll, announced by the league on Tuesday. The 'Cats are also receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches National Preseason Poll ahead of the new campaign.
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 36 players, with 23 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.
