ASHLAND, Ohio. - The Northern Michigan University women's soccer team is set for its 2024 NCAA tournament first-round match against the Drury Panthers.
This marks the fourth time in program history and the third consecutive season that the Wildcats have made the NCAA tournament, with
Jon Sandoval at the helm for the past three.
The Wildcats enter the competition riding high after a historic season, capturing both the GLIAC regular-season and tournament championships for the second consecutive year.
Boasting a 14-3-4 record, the 'Cats are fresh off a dominant 3-0 win over Saginaw Valley State in the GLIAC championship. Key offensive contributors include All-GLIAC First Team forwards
Justina L'Esperance,
Brooke Pietila, and
Molly Pistorius, who are one, two, and three in the conference in total points along with Pietila and Pistorius being named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The Wildcats have combined a potent offense with a rock-solid defense, including GLIAC Defender of the Year
Hannah Kastamo, who is fourth in the conference in total points, fellow conference first-team selection and mainstay
Maria Storm, and anchored by GLIAC Freshman of the Year, goalkeeper
Sally Patton, who secured six shutouts this season.
The Wildcats will travel to Ashland, Ohio, for a neutral-site match with the Panthers, as the home-town Eagles are the #1 seed and hosting the region. Kickoff from Ferguson Field will be on Friday, November 22, at 3 p.m. ET. Fans can purchase tickets
here, catch the live stream for free on the Great Midwest Digital Network
here, and follow along with live stats
here.
The forecast for Friday looks bleak, but nothing the Wildcats are unfamiliar with, calling for close to 100% precipitation of a rain/snow mix, temperatures in the lower 40s, and a 15-20 mph wind with gusts up to 40 mph.
The Wildcats (14-3-4) earned the #4 seed in the region after winning the GLIAC conference championship and will embark on its third consecutive NCAA tournament. Drury (14-2-4) enters as the #5 seeded team in the region after earning an at-large bid, as the team fell to McKendree in the GLVC semifinals.
The winner between these two sides will face the #1 seeded Ashland Eagles (17-1-2), who earned a first-round bye after claiming the G-MAC conference title, earning the top spot in the region.
Follow Along
Follow @NMU_wsoccer and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the games.
Friday, November 22 - vs Drury at 3 PM
Tickets | Watch on GMDN | Live Stats
Hear from Natalie Stampfly
A Look At Dury
The Drury Panthers enter the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional as the fifth seed, earning an at-large bid after a 13-1-4 season, and achieving the best regular-season winning percentage (.833) in program history.
They finished as runners-up in the GLVC regular season and carried a ten-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2) into the postseason. Their conference journey included a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Indianapolis before a hard-fought 2-1 semifinal loss to McKendree ended their streak.
Drury had seven athletes named to three different all-GLVC teams, including first-team selections Andrea Camargo, Kourtney Tucker, and Holland Hawkins. Hawkins ranks third in the GLVC in goals with 11, Camargo was the league's defender of the year in 2023 and has been a staple on the back line for the Panthers for five seasons, and Tucker is responsible for 16 of the Panthers' 120 points on the season with six goals and four assists.
Katy Fitzler was a second-team selection only behind Maryville's keeper. In her first season of play, Fitzler leads the nation in shutouts with 13.
