MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University men's soccer team is off to its best start in program history, aided by two goals from
Alessandro Scialanga and a complete team effort from start to finish.
"That was a complete 90 minute match out there today," said head coach
Alex Fatovic. "From the players that started to the reserves that came off the bench, I couldn't be more proud of the guys. They got what they deserved today."
Leading the way in that full team effort was defenseman Allesandro Scialanga who found the back of the net twice, scoring his first and second career goals.
"This all started two days ago when we were down 2-0 to Lewis and then we fought our way back," says Alessandro. " We didn't get the result we wanted, so we came together after the game to share ideas on how we can improve, and that's what you saw today."
A truly dominant performance, the Wildcats outshot the Saints 19-8 with nine on target to zero for the Saints, guiding the Green and Gold to a third shutout and a program best 3-0-1 start to the 2024 season.
"As games go on, our quality starts to come out, and we've got it on the bench and in the starting group," added Fatovic. "We're gonna check the tape and see where we can get better before GLIAC's next week, but right now we're going to rest up and enjoy this one."
The 'Cats now move to 3-0-1 with three shutouts in the first four games, the best start in program history, and will shift its focus to opening GLIAC play on the road with a clash against St. Cloud State on Saturday next weekend.
Cat Nips
- Sophomore Alessandro Scialanga scored his first career Wildcat goals on the evening, giving him two goals on the season and six points in four games (2-2--4)
- The last time a Wildcat recorded a multi-goal game was Tommaso Lami on 10/23/2022 with a pair against Upper Iowa
- In his Wildcat debut, Kyle Cameron scored his first career goal with a late dagger to make it 3-0
- James Carr picked up his first career Wildcat point with an assist on Scialanga's first goal
- Tommaso Lami picked up his first assist and third point of the year with an assist on Scialanga's second goal
- Triston Nelson earned his second start of the season and first point of the year with an assist on Cameron's goal
- Nils Cedergren picked up his third career shutout and third clean sheet in the first four games
- Along with Cedergren, both James Carr and Quinn Van Roij played the full 90 minutes on the back end. Scialanga (87), Finn Van Den Berg (85), and Lami (83) all played 80 or more minutes
- The 'Cats now move to 3-0-1 with three shutouts in the first four games, the best start in program history
- Seven different Wildcats have found the back of the net through four games of the season
How It Happened
The Wildcats nearly captured the first goal of the game 10 minutes in as
Teun Van Gansewinkel corralled a ball at his feet just outside the right corner of the box. RIght footed he made a good hit, but sent the ball just wide of the left post. Two minutes later, Tuen found himself inside the keepers
Thomas More had a break of their own halfway through the frame, as an attacker darted into the Wildcats box.
Xhoel Lutaj was up to the task defensively, as he made a perfect tackle to win possession of the ball legally and not take a penalty on the dangerous chance.
The Wildcats broke the scoreless tie in the final miuntes of the first half, as the left-footed shot of
Alessandro Scialanga took a deflection in the box and beat the keeper to the bottom left, and would take a 1-0 lead into half.
Ale and the Wildcats weren't done there, as Scialanga doubled-up in the opening minutes of the new half. Lami made a nice move around a defender to get into the box before threading the needle to find Scialanga wide open atop the box. Ale gathered the ball, took a strike, and beat the goalkeeper to the bottom right corner.
The 'Cats continued to dominate possession and opportunities, as attempts from both
Davian Gumbs and
Logan Lazar from inside the box both just missed the target.
Kyle Cameron made his Wildcat debut and added an exclamation point to the game, finishing off a pass from
Triston Nelson to haul in his first career Wildcat goal and officially putting the game out of reach.
Up Next
The 'Cats are on the road for a single contest next weekend, opening its GLIAC slate of matches at St. Cloud State on Saturday, September 21, at 8 PM ET.