MARQUETTE, Mich. - After securing four points over the conference opening weekend, the Northern Michigan University women's soccer team (5-0-1 overall, 1-0-1 GLIAC) head back on the road to take on two more GLIAC opponents, the Ferris State Bulldogs and Saginaw Valley Cardinals.
The 'Cats have moved up ten spots to #13 after they were previously voted #23 in the nation across D2 soccer, per United Soccer Coaches. This is the first time in program history the Wildcats have been rated as high as 13 and nationally ranked two weeks in a row.
The Wildcats take on Ferris State (2-2-2 overall, 0-1-1 GLIAC) on Friday, September 22, at 4 p.m., followed by the match against Saginaw Valley (3-2-1 overall, 0-1-1 GLIAC) on Sunday, September 24, at 12 p.m.
The Wildcats currently sit second on the GLIAC table, with Saginaw Valley and Ferris State landing sixth and seventh, respectively.
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Friday, September 22 - vs. Ferris State at 4:00 PM
Live Stats | Watch on FloFC
Sunday, September 24 - vs. Saginaw Valley at 12:00 PM
Live Stats | Watch on FloFC
Hear From Head Coach Jon Sandoval
"[This weekend] is going to be a really tough test. Anytime you go downstate it's always a challenging test, so I think this weekend is gut check time."
Cat Nips
- Molly Pistorius continues to be at the top of the GLIAC goal totals. Across the conference, Molly is the only student-athlete with multiple hat-tricks (2), and she is first in goals (6), points (13), shots (30), shots on goal per game (2.83), goals per game (1.00), and points per game (2.17). She is also T1 in game-winning goals (2). Nationally, her six goals are T5, her 13 points are T7, her 17 shots on target are T5 and her 30 shot attempts are seventh.
- Forward Hannah Kastamo continues to make waves in her sophomore season, as she is second on the team in goals (4) and points (10), and fifth in assists (2). Across the GLIAC, Hannah is T1 in game-winning goals (2), second in goals (4) and points (10), and T4 in assists (2). Nationally, Kastamo's two game-winning goals are T7.
- Brenna Musser leads the Wildcats with four assists, good for T6 nationally
- Goalkeeper Jillian Thompson remains at T1 in shutouts nationally with four. Across the GLIAC, Thompson also is leading the standings in wins with five and is T1 in minutes played with 540.
- Gwen Kiilunen is the only Wildcat who has played almost all 540 minutes through the first six matches; she currently stands at 539. Maria Storm and Isabelle Brusilow follow behind in terms of time played, with 500 and 487 respectively.
- As a team, the Wildcats have outscored its opponents 16-4 and outshot its opponents 125-38. Nationally, the Wildcats are third in shots on goal (70), fifth in shots on goal per game (11.67), sixth in shot attempts (125), T7 in corner kicks (42), T8 in win-lost-tied percentage (.917), 10th in shots per game (20.83), T11 in goals (16), T13 in assists (11) and total points (43), and T19 in average goals per game (2.67). The Wildcats lead the GLIAC in total goals scored (16), assists (11), points (43), and shutouts (4).
Last Week
The Wildcats embarked on its second home stand of the season, securing four points with a tie against the Parkside Rangers and win over the Purdue Northwest Pride.
Hannah Kastamo led the 'Cats in the match against the Rangers, recording the lone goal made during the match, putting her at four goals on the season.
Brenna Musser recorded one assist, and
Molly Pistorius registered a solid six shots. Goalkeeper
Jillian Thompson recorded three saves, and the team found a season high in shots with 25.
Allison Kroll,
Maria Storm, and
Isabella Lorens scored for the Wildcats against the Pride, while
Stephanie Trujillo and
Olivia Moreno recorded the assists. Goalkeeper
Jillian Thompson made one save for the 'Cats, earning her fourth shutout of the season. The Wildcats improved to 5-0-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the GLIAC for the season.
A Look at Ferris
The Bulldogs are heading into the Weekend carrying a 2-2-2 record, their wins coming from the first two games of the season against Maryville University and Northwood University. Five Bulldogs have accrued goals, Haley Buckman (2), Isabella Baron (1), Payton Price (1), Bella Vallone (1), and Katherine Welch (1), with three more, including Price, recording assists. Darya Mosallaei has been the main goalkeeper for the Bulldogs through five games. She is ranked second in the GLIAC with her 21 saves while carrying a 1.20 GAA and a .778 SV%. The 'Cats went 1-0-1 against the Bulldogs last season, out scoring the opponent 3-1 in that frame.
A Look at Saginaw Valley
The Cardinals enter the weekend matches with a 3-2-1 overall record, finding wins against Truman State, Quincy University, and Findlay since the start of the season. Madi Bajis and Stephanie Strong lead the Cardinals in goals with three a piece, Bajis totaling six points and Strong with 10. Strong is currently ranked the most in the GLIAC for the Cardinals; she is T1 in assists, second in shots, T2 in points, and fifth in goals. Goalkeeper Lainey Garbarz has started three games for the Cardinals, recording a 1.08 GAA and a 0.800 SV% with 16 saves. Garbarz is T5 in the GLIAC for saves with 16 and ranked fifth for SV%. The 'Cats are 5-1 in its last six against the Cardinals, out scoring its opponent 13-8 in that frame.
