Box Score UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The No. 13 Northern Michigan University women's soccer team rounded out its second week of GLIAC play with a trip to University Center, Michigan, to take on the SVSU Cardinals, dropping the contest 0-1.

The Cardinals scored early in the second half to take a 1-0 lead, and the Wildcats thought they tied the score late in the half as Madison Bilbia found the back of the net, but the linesmans' flag came up for offsides, and the score remained 1-0.

The Wildcats lost its first game of the season, falling to 6-1-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the GLIAC. The Cardinals improve to 4-2-2 overall, and 1-1-2 in GLIAC play.

Cat Nips

• Stephanie Trujillo and Madison Bilbia led the Wildcats with three shots
• Jillian Thompson made two saves from three shots on target
• The last time the Wildcats outshot its opponent and lost was on 11/11/22 against Maryville in the NCAA Tournament (L, 0-1)
• The last time the Wildcats were held with under 10 shots was on 10/28/22 against Michigan Tech (7 shots)

How It Happened
1st Half
The Wildcats did a great job at pressing and controlling play to start the half, highlighted by Stephanie Trujillo getting a quality look from inside the 18-yard box. She was able to get a good strike on the ball, but it was blocked by a defender before trickling to goal.

The Cardinals had a good look at goal late from a dead ball opportunity, as they sent a corner kick to the other end of the box and got a decent header on goal, forcing Jillian Thompson to stay sharp to keep the game scoreless.

The score remained zero's and the counting stats were relatively similar going into the half, as the Wildcats recorded three shots and the Cardinals recorded two. The main point of emphasis is the 'Cats did not record any corner kick opportunities alongside the Cardinals two, where the Cardinals almost broke the scoreless tie.

2nd Half
The 'Cats jumped out to a hot start, as Madison Bilbia generated a quality shot on target in the opening two minutes.

The Cardinals were granted a free kick from just outside the 18 yard box, Solana Kelly went up and got a header towards goal from inside the area that beat keeper Jillian Thompson to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats had a chance to tie the game with 17 minutes left, as a Stephanie Trujillo shot hit the post and landed on the foot of a wide-open Madison Bilbia who tapped it in the open net, but the line judge's flag came up to signal an offside, and the game remained scoreless.

Up Next
The Wildcats return home for a rematch of the GLIAC Championship match, squaring off against Grand Valley State on Friday, September 29, at 3 p.m.