MARQUETTE, Mich. - As the regular season begins to dwindle down, the Northern Michigan men's soccer team prepares for a singular-match weekend against the Lakers of Roosevelt University.
The Wildcats faced Saginaw Valley and Davenport this past weekend on their home turf. Although the 'Cats saw a tough 0-1 result against Saginaw, Northern was able to respond on Sunday and earn three points from a 2-0 win against Davenport on Senior Night.
The Wildcats will come into the weekend with a 5-6-2 overall record and a 2-6-1 conference record, and sit one point outside of a playoff spot behind Purdue Northwest (8pts, 2-4-2), making this one-game weekend extremely critical to get a favorable result.
The last time the 'Cats faced Roosevelt, the Lakers scored four minutes before the first half came to a close on a bone-chilling, blustery day in Marquette, a goal that would end up being the game-winner as the game ended 0-1.
Coming into the weekend, Roosevelt has a record of 6-4-2 overall, and 4-4 in the conference. With their most recent loss against Parkside, the 'Cats look to even the overall record between the teams and get a crucial three points from the Lakers.
Follow Along
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Sunday, October 27 - vs. Roosevelt University at 1 PM
Watch | Live Stats
Hear from Alex Fatovic
"I don't think we change anything. I think we just get healthy and keep the vibes going…The reality is we have to win games. We'll head down on Saturday and hopefully get a big road win"
Cat Nips
- The Wildcats generate plenty of offensive opportunities, as the team is first in the GLIAC and 26th in the nation in shots per game, averaging 14.85, and second in the GLIAC in shots on goal per game, averaging 5.77
- Similarly, the 'Cats are first in the GLIAC and 20th in the nation in corner kicks per game, averaging six flat
- The 'Cats have done well in its own half of the park as well, as the team is first in the conference in goals-against average (1.00) and 4th in shutout percentage (0.308)'
- Nils Cedergren is atop the conference in goalie minutes played (1170:00), goals-against average (1.000), and second in shutouts (4) and save percentage (0.764)
- Tommaso Lami enters the contest as the reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, recording a brace on his senior night to lead the 'Cats to a 2-0 win
- Lami is second in the GLIAC for total shots (40) and shots on goal, averaging 1.46 per game
- Lami and Alessandro Scialanga lead the Wildcats in points (9), Lami having four goals and one assist, while Scialanga has three goals and three assists
- Scialanga leads Wildcat field players in minutes played with 1,168, all but two minutes of the season. Behind him are Quint Van Roij (1,158), Tommaso Lami (1,083), James Carr (974), Xhoel Lutaj (933), and Finn van den Berg (933)
- Lami and Roij enter the weekend in foul trouble. Both on four yellow cards, one more booking will mean a one-match ban
A Look at Roosevelt
New to the GLIAC, Roosevelt stands with a record of 6-4-2 overall and 4-4 in the conference. The Lakers are off to a good start in its first season as a D2 program, as they stand 4th in the conference and in search of a home playoff game.
Both leading the team with eight points are graduate student Nick Kilian and junior Oskar Schuster, with Killian recording one goal and six assists, and Schuster recording four goals. Junior goalkeeper, Eric Carvajal, records 15 goals scored against, 31 saves in total, and a save percentage of 0.674.
This will now be the second meeting in program history between the 'Cats and the Lakers, with Roosevelt holding a 3-1 record at home this year.
