MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University women's soccer team's historic seasons came to a close on Friday, as the 'Cats fell to the Maryville Saints 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, all three goals coming in the final four minutes of the match.

The game was a level 0-0 until the 86th minute, as Maryville scored off a mad scramble in the box. The Saints scored off a counter-attack a minute later to double the lead, giving the Saints a two goal lead with two minutes left. Gwen Kiilunen scored off a Stephanie Trujillo corner kick with 30 seconds left, and the game finished 2-1.

The Wildcats finish the 2023 campaign with a 16-2-4 record, tying the most wins in a season in program history, and won the GLIAC Regular Season and Post Season Championships, both first in program history. The 'Cats finished the regular season ranked no. 8 in the nation, the highest ranking in program history.

Cat Nips

• Senior defender Gwen Kiilunen scored her first career goal as a Wildcat
• Stephanie Trujillo recorded the assist for the 'Cats, her team leading sixth
• The 'Cats outshot the Saints 14-8, with nine on target to MU's six
• The 'Cats recorded five corners to the Saints two
• This marked the first time the 'Cats lost at home since September 17, 2021
• Eight of the 'Cats starters recorded 86+ minutes, six of those playing the full 90

How It Happened
1st Half
Chaos ensued halfway through the first half, as both teams registered quality opportunities. First, a cross into the MU box took a couple of deflections before rolling along the goal line. A couple of 'Cats attempted to get a clean look at the ball, but the Maryville defender cleared it off the line. Not a minute later, a Maryville attacker came down on Thompson with a one-on-one opportunity. Thompson came off her line to challenge the shooter, which turned out to be an excellent decision as she made a crucial save to keep the match scoreless.

Despite the quality chances, both teams strode to the locker room scoreless. The 'Cats had the advantage in possession with 55%, outshot the Saints 7-2 with five on target to two, and had two corner kick opportunities. Eight of the starting 11 for the 'Cats played the full 45, and Molly Pistorius led the field with four shots and three on target.

2nd Half
It took another 20 minutes before another quality look was generated, this time coming off the foot of a Maryville player. Lexi Gentry lined up and fired a shot from about 25 yards out that rang the crossbar. The rebound landed on the foot of Nika Vemdal, but Thompson was able to come up with the save. 

Maryville broke the scoreless tie with just over three minutes left, as a corner kick led to a lot of chaos in the NMU box before Ashlyne Hunt scored to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. The Saints caught the Wildcats pressing up the line, and a counter-attack a minute later gave the Saints a 2-0 lead. 

Gwen Kiilunen scored her first career goal in the final minute from a Stephanie Trujillo corner kick, but it was too little too late, and the Saints would go on to win 2-1. 

The 'Cats finished with 14 shots to the saints 8, and five corner kicks to the Saints two.