Football 10/27/2025 9:16:00 AM

Weekend Recap in NMU Athletics: 10/23 - 10/26

Football vs Michigan Tech, Miner's Cup

56-17 loss

Northern trailed 21-3 at halftime, but had several chances to be much closer after three trips to the red zone resulted in only three points over the first 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Huskies found the endzone three times on five first-half possessions. They went on to score five more touchdowns in the second half, including a punt return and a fumble returned for a score. NMU added a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters.

The Wildcats kept attacking the ground with 270 rushing yards, but the Huskies nearly matched with 269 on the ground and a 199-75 advantage through the air. NMU struggled with the explosive plays, as Tech averaged 9.0 yards per play while NMU had 4.7.

Hockey vs No. 1/1 Michigan State

Friday, 0-4 loss
Saturday, 2-6 loss

The Spartans got a 24-save shutout from the Detroit Red Wings' 2023 second-round draft pick, Trey Augustine, the first of the season and seventh of his career on Friday night. The sixth overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft, Porter Martone, led the Spartans with a goal and an assist, including the game-winning goal. The Wildcats had its chances to score, including six power play attempts and a shot off the post, but were unsuccessful in its man-advantage opportunities, marking the first time the 'Cats have been shut out this season.

Thanks to a pair of goals from Caiden Gault, the Wildcats were tied 2-2 with the Spartans going into the third period on Saturday. After a pair of failed power play attempts from the Wildcats, the Spartans retook the lead on a man-advantage opportunity of its own six and a half minutes into the final period, thanks to Daniel Russell. Goals from Porter Martone and Tiernan Shoudy, just 15 seconds apart at the halfway point in the final frame, gave MSU a three-goal cushion before Shoudy added his second goal of the night into the empty net. The game ended with a scrum for the ages, as there were 23 minutes of penalties called between five players on both sides, including a five-minute major and a ten-minute misconduct, after a review that took upwards of ten minutes to sort out. There were a total of 51 penalty minutes on 20 infractions, with MSU being whistled for 12 of the 20 penalties and 35 of the 51 minutes. This marks the first time since 2019 where NMU and its opponent have combined for 20+ penalties and 50+ penalty minutes (Nov. 23, 2019, vs Michigan Tech at the Berry Events Center; 20 combined penalties, 62 minutes). The B.E.C. record for penalties in one game is 24 (vs. Michigan Tech, 2/17/2005).

Volleyball vs Grand Valley and Wayne State

3-2 win vs GVSU
2-3 loss vs WSU

The Wildcats jumped ahead 2-0 and looked poised for a sweep after building an early 4-1 lead to begin the third, but the Lakers fought back to win the next two sets and force a decisive fifth. NMU led 8-4 as the teams switched sides in the final frame, but the Lakers rallied again to even the score at 8-8. From there, the two teams traded points, tying three more times, before the 'Cats closed it out with the final three points, capped by a thunderous match-ending block that perfectly reflected Northern's dominance at the net throughout the night.

After a five-set thriller and emotional win on Friday night, the Northern Michigan volleyball team found themselves in another heart-stopper on Saturday, this time on the wrong end of it, falling to the Wayne State Warriors in front of a loud Vandament Arena crowd. The atmosphere matched the intensity on the court, as the two teams traded momentum swings throughout the night. The match featured 21 ties and nine lead changes, with 10 of those ties and five lead exchanges coming in a dramatic fifth set. NMU held a pair of match points at 14-13 and 15-14, but the Warriors battled back to score the final three for the win.

Cross Country - GLIAC Championship

2nd of 11

The Wildcats have five runners place in the top-30, with four earning All-GLIAC honors, putting forth a collective effort for the team's best finish since 2017. In a race of over 100 runners, the Wildcats were paced once again by First Team All-GLIAC runner Madi Szymanski. Szymanski finished in 10th place with a time of 21:05.7. Not far behind Szymanski was Ashley Choponis, who earned Second Team All-GLIAC recognition in her first conference race. Choponis finished in 16th with a time of 21:38.2.

Behind the leaders were Emma Sweeney and Lamar Gordon, who finished back-to-back in 22nd and 23rd with times of 21:56.8 and 21:57.4, respectively. The duo also earned Second Team All-GLIAC accolades.

Men's Soccer

0-0 draw at Parkside
3-0 win vs St. Cloud State

The Wildcats seemed to have brought the UP weather with them to Wisconsin, as Wednesday's match saw temperatures just below 50 degrees and 20-30 mph winds blowing parallel to the field. Eight of the starting eleven played the full 90 minutes, including all eleven starters playing 77+ minutes, led by Luca Rosen with 10 shots and three on target. Goalkeeper Asaf Kristal made four saves to earn his GLIAC-leading sixth shutout on the season.

The Wildcats opened the scoring 13 minutes into the game vs St. Cloud on Sunday, as Ian Weimer scored a header off a perfect cross from James Carr. Rosen would score a brace in the second half to make the game 3-0. The forward first earned his team a penalty before standing over the ball and scoring convincingly, then stole the ball on the back line and beating the keeper one-on-one with three minutes remaining in the match. The Wildcat defense and goaltender Asaf Kristal earned its seventh clean sheet of the season, the fifth in conference play, as Kristal turned aside all six that found the target. The 'Cats held the Huskies to just eight shot attempts, the second-fewest the Wildcats have allowed all season.

Women's Soccer

0-3 loss at #5 Grand Valley
2-2 draw at Ferris State

After a back-and-forth first 40 minutes of play, the Lakers capitalized on a Wildcat miscue to open the scoring before capitalizing on a blocked clearance to double its lead with ten seconds to go in the first half. GVSU scored once more in the second half, and the game would end 0-3. The Wildcats got 90 minute performances from Jillian Thompson, Irene Kiilunen, and Ava Buhlman. Kenna Alexander, Hannah Kastamo, and Addison Wargo all played over 80 minutes.

The Wildcats opened the scoring thanks to Addison Frantti scoring a header off a perfect pass from Alyse Daavettila, who picked up her first assist on the season. The Bulldogs responded just five minutes later to pull even before gaining the lead just before the end of the half. After being outshot 5-3 in the first half an hour of the second half, NMU fired six shots to FSU's none, including the tying goal from Madison Bilbia, who finished a header from a perfectly played corner off the boot of Kenna Alexander. The Wildcats had a great chance to take the lead with under a minute left, as the last action of the game was a save from goalkeeper Korinne Ihrke on Frantti, who had a partial breakaway inside the box.

No. 8 Men's Swim and Dive

125-118 win vs #10 Saginaw Valley, 120-112 win vs #20 Findlay
63-178 loss at #4 Grand Valley State

The Wildcats had 16 podium finishes in Friday's meet with SVSU and Findlay, highlighted by and individual gold from Andrew Tease in the 100 breast, and a pair of individual silver medals for freshman Timothee Garin in the 1000 and 500 free.

The Wildcats found 11 podium finishes against the Lakers, including a pair of first-place finishes from freshman Matteo Ballardin, who swam back-to-back first-place races in the 200 IM and 200 fly before finishing with a silver in his final event, the 200 breast. Gabriel Fulconi claimed silver in the 200 free, 200 free relay, and bronze in the 100 free. Diego Carrillo found the podium on both occasions, claiming silver in the 1-meter and bronze in the 3-meter, and both the 400 medley relay and 200 free relay finished in second.

No. 10 Women's Swim and Dive

139-98 win vs #14 Findlay, 132-108 win vs #17 Saginaw Valley
104-138 loss to #4 Grand Valley State

The Wildcats had 19 podium finishes in Friday's meet with SVSU and Findlay, highlighted by the dive team sweepeing the podiums in both the 3-meter and 1-meter diving, and an individual gold from Emma Casas in the 100 back.

The Wildcats found 13 podium positions against the Lakers, highlighted by five first-place finishes and nine second-place marks. Kalina Ceglinski continues her torrid pace, as the diver claimed gold in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. Evie DeCarlo claimed individual gold in the 200 IM, and Anika Wright finished first in the 500 free and second in the 1000 free and 400 medley relay. The 400 freestyle relay team of Abby Keen, Joanne Arbic, Phini Schneider, and Vicky Burda ended the meet with gold over GVSU by 0.12 seconds. Carlotta Santi claimed a pair of second-place finishes in the 200 and 500 free, and Laura Stockinger silver in both the 50 and 100 free.

Greco-Roman Wrestling at the U23 World Championships
Northern Michigan University's Greco-Roman wrestling program had a landmark showing at the 2025 U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia.

Payton Jacobson made history by winning the program's first-ever U23 World medal with a bronze at 87 kg. Otto Black added another bronze at 67 kg, while Max Black finished fifth at 60 kg. Kaden Ercanbrack and Kenneth Crosby also represented Northern Michigan, contributing to a strong overall performance for Team USA.

Jacobson advanced to the semifinals, lost, but immediately rebounded to secure bronze, while Otto Black fought through the repechage to claim his medal. The two medals mark the first time the U.S. earned multiple Greco-Roman medals at the U23 Worlds in the same year, highlighting the strength of NMU's program on the international stage.

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Players Mentioned

Max Black: 5' 5"; Senior

Kenneth Crosby: Freshman

Kaden Ercanbrack: Junior

Payton Jacobson: 5' 6"; Senior

#16 Caiden Gault: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#2 James Carr: D; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#1 Asaf Kristal: GK; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#10 Luca Rosen: F; 5' 9"; Junior

#20 Ian Weimer: F; 6' 3"; Sophomore

Joanne Arbic: 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Max Black
: 5' 5"; Senior

Kenneth Crosby
: Freshman

Kaden Ercanbrack
: Junior

Payton Jacobson
: 5' 6"; Senior

#16 Caiden Gault
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#2 James Carr
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: D

#1 Asaf Kristal
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: GK

#10 Luca Rosen
: 5' 9"; Junior
: F

#20 Ian Weimer
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: F

Joanne Arbic
: 5' 11"; Senior