MARQUETTE, Mich. - As the Northern Michigan University women's soccer team enters the final weekend of the 2024 regular season, the Wildcats are looking to finish strong and secure the top spot in the GLIAC postseason tournament.
The 'Cats last two matches are on the road, November 7 at Grand Valley State and November 9 at Saginaw Valley State.
With an impressive record of 11-3-2 overall and 9-2-1 in GLIAC play, the Wildcats are currently in a tight race with Grand Valley State for the top spot in the conference, as NMU sits one point ahead of the Lakers.
The rivalry between the two teams has become one of the season's most anticipated matchups, with both programs now looking to secure the GLIAC Regular Season Title.
"The last few years it has turned into a great rivalry," said head coach
Jon Sandoval in his weekly press availability. "A great opportunity to go down there and play a quality game and quality soccer."
NMU closes its regular season with a critical match against Saginaw Valley State on Sunday. The Wildcats won 3-1 at home earlier in the season, a matchup that saw goals from
Hannah Kastamo,
Molly Pistorius, and
Justina L'Esperance.
??Follow Along
Follow @NMU_wsoccer and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the games.
Thursday, November 7 - at Grand Valley State at 5:00 p.m. ET
Watch on FloFC | Live Stats
Saturday, November 9 - at Saginaw Valley at 12:00 p.m. ET
Watch on FloFC | Live Stats
Hear from Jon Sandoval
A Look At Grand Valley
The No. 19 ranked Grand Valley State women's soccer team has been one of the most consistent and formidable programs in the GLIAC. The Lakers boast a record of 11-1-4 overall and 8-1-3 in conference play.
The Lakers' most recent performance, was a scoreless draw against Davenport. Despite failing to secure a win in this contest, the Lakers controlled the game, outshooting the Panthers 11-5 and creating more offensive opportunities, including six corner kicks to Davenport's four.
Last match with the Lakers the Wildcats put forth a competitive effort but ultimately fell 1-0 in a tightly contested match at home. The game was scoreless at halftime, but in the 65th minute, Ella Kleiver broke the deadlock for the Lakers, scoring the only goal of the match.
Despite the setback, NMU did not back down. A weather delay due to lightning with just under 15 minutes remaining temporarily halted play, but the Wildcats came out with renewed energy afterward, registering seven unanswered shots in the final stretch of the game. While the Wildcats ultimately lost, the result highlighted their ability to compete with one of the top teams in the nation.
A Look At Saginaw Valley
The Cardinals currently sit 7-5-4 overall and 5-3-4 in GLIAC play, a solid position in the conference with just a few games remaining. The Cardinals' most recent victory came on the road against Purdue Northwest, where they secured a crucial 1-0 win to pick up three important conference points.
This result brought them to 19 points on the season and into fifth place in the GLIAC standings, just one point from holding a home playoff position for the first round.
Saginaw Valley outshot Purdue Northwest 11-8 overall, with a significant advantage in shots on goal, 9-3. The team's offensive leader, Madi Bajis, was instrumental in generating scoring chances, registering six shots with four on target. However, it was Grace Miller who provided the game's only goal in the 60th minute, connecting on a cross from Peyton Kennedy to put the Cardinals ahead.
In their most recent matchup against Saginaw Valley State, the Wildcats earned a 3-1 victory at home. After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, the Wildcats quickly responded to a second-half equalizer from the Cardinals, regaining the lead just 28 seconds after the kickoff and preventing Saginaw Valley from gaining any momentum. The Wildcats maintained control and sealed the win with a third goal in the 80th minute. A balanced offensive effort saw six different players contribute to the scoring, with
Justina L'Esperance leading the way with a goal and an assist. Despite challenging conditions, including strong winds, the Wildcats showed resilience and grit, successfully managing the pressure and earning their fourth conference win of the season.
