MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University men's soccer team will embark on its last regular season road trip this weekend, with its sights set on matches against GLIAC opponents the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, and the Davenport Panthers.

The Wildcats (2-8-2 overall, 1-5-1 GLIAC) take on the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals (3-5-3 overall, 1-3-2 GLIAC) on Friday at 12 PM, followed by the match against the Davenport Panthers (3-4-3 overall, 2-3-1 GLIAC) on Sunday at 3 PM. 

This is a big weekend for the 'Cats, as the green and gold are currently one point back of the Cardinals and three back of the Panthers in the GLIAC standings. Making up ground in the standings will be a focal point from this trip, as one of the two wins for this season come from the Davenport Panthers, and the 'Cats only dropped the match against SVSU earlier in the season 0-1.

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Friday, October 13th - vs. Saginaw Valley State at 12 PM
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Sunday, October 15th - vs. Davenport at 3 PM
Watch | Live Stats

Hear From Alex Fatovic
"The message has to be 'continue to fight, and continue to assert this new identity we have'... We have to buy into this new identity that's going to allow us to get some success in the post season."



Cat Nips

• Fernando Abascal leads the Wildcats with points overall (1g, 2a, 4pts)
• Six different Wildcats have scored a goal and have registered at least two points
• Jan Hoffmann leads the Wildcats in shots (26) and minutes played (1007).
• The Wildcats as a team are second overall in the GLIAC for goals against average (1.18), second in saves (49), and fourth overall in the GLIAC for shots (95). 

Last Week 
The Wildcats hosted GLIAC opponents, the Parkside Rangers and the Purdue Northwest Pride, dropping the matches in 2-1 and 0-0 decisions, respectively. 

On Friday against the Rangers, Goalkeeper Bryce Beckley was a huge difference maker in the game with seven saves. Fernando Abascal had the lone goal for the Wildcats late in the second half. The Wildcats were outshot 18-6 but held onto a one shot deficit. 

In the match against the Pride, both teams had 11 shots in the game with five on net for the Pride and four on net for the Cats. Goalkeeper Bryce Beckley recorded his first shutout with five saves.

A Look at Saginaw Valley State
The Cardinals come into the weekend 3-5-3 overall and 1-3-2 in the GLIAC, most recently dropping a 2-0 decision to the Davenport Panthers. Jonathan Monney leads the Cardinals in points (5g, 0a, 10pts) and is ranked third overall in the GLIAC for goals. Three keepers have shared the net over 11 games with a GAA of 1.45 and three total shutouts in conference play. 

The Cats played the Cardinals earlier this season dropping the match with a 1-0 decision. The match against the defending GLIAC champs was close in Marquette, and the 'Cats now head down to Robert C. Braddock Field to face a Cardinal squad that is winless in its last five games and has been outscored 8-1 in that frame.

A Look at Davenport
The Panthers come into the weekend 3-4-3 overall and 2-3-1 in the GLIAC, most recently coming away with a win in a 2-0 decision against the Cardinals as previously stated. Bobby Curran earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for last week's shutout against Saginaw Valley State. Curran has a GAA of 1.04, SV% of 0.800, and has made 28 saves on the season. Forwards Vitalis Takawira Jr. (3g, 1a, 7pts) and Eoin Broughan (3g, 0a, 6pts) lead the Panthers in points for the season.

The Cats previously beat the Panthers in a 1-0 decision and the 'Cats will looking to remain perfect against Davenport this season. The last four matches have seen the Panthers go 1-2-1, staying in stride with its opponents with four goals scored to four goals against.