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Northern Michigan University

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1
Northern Mich. Cats (1-2-3, 1-1-0)
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Winner Wis.-Parkside Ranger (1-3-2, 1-0-1)
Northern Mich. Cats
(1-2-3, 1-1-0)
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Final
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Wis.-Parkside Ranger
(1-3-2, 1-0-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Northern Mich. Cats 1 0 1
Wis.-Parkside Ranger 1 1 2
Alyse Daavettila

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Wildcats Drop 2-1 Decision to Rangers

Kenna Alexander scores a penalty, Carly Sides makes eight saves in her collegiate debut

KENOSHA, Wisc. - The NMU women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to the Parkside Rangers to round out the opening road trip of the season. 

The Wildcats (1-2-3 overall, 1-1-0 GLIAC) got its lone goal from Kenna Alexander, scoring from a penalty kick to even up the contest at one aside. The penalty attempt was the first for the 'Cats since October 16, 2022, and the first penalty goal since a month earlier in that same season, on September 4. 

Redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Carly Sides got her first career start today, making eight saves from ten on target. This marked the most saves by a women's soccer goalkeeper in their debut (going back to 2009), and the most saves in a single game from an NMU keeper since Ava Wilberding stopped eight in a 0-0 draw to Ferris State on October 23, 2022.

The Rangers (1-3-2 overall, 1-0-1 GLIAC) found its first win of the season, thanks to goals from Kayden Schmidt and Lindsay Dahlinger, both scoring their first of the season. Goalkeeper Tristen Cross made a season-high nine saves from ten on target.

The Rangers snapped a 10-game winless streak against the Wildcats today, as the teams' last win against the 'Cats was a 1-0 decision in Kenosha on November 3, 2019. 

Another warm day for playing conditions, the Wildcats and Rangers played nine and ten substitutions, respectively, with both sides having only two field players play the entire ninety. Addison Wargo and Irene Kiilunen played the full game for the 'Cats, followed by Hannah Kastamo at 84 minutes. The 'Cats saw six of the nine substitutes contribute 20+ minutes, led by Marena Maceroni (39), Ellianna Seeley (34), and Emma Kastamo (33).

The Rangers outshot the Wildcats 22-16, but both teams' shots on goal (10) and corner kick (4) totals matched. The Wildcats produced a season-high eight saves, while the Rangers posted season-highs in points, goals, assists, shots, shots on goal, and saves. 

How It Happened
The Wildcats opened the game applying offensive pressure, generating a handful of chances in the first ten minutes of action, highlighted by a left-footed strike from Nissen inside the box that just curled by the near post. Minutes later, Bilbia played a ball into the box that the keeper came out to cover, but was unable to handle cleanly, causing havoc in the box that almost led to a Wildcat goal.

In the first sequence of her collegiate career, Sides made two great plays to disrupt crosses before making a sliding save. The goalkeeper came off her line to punch away a corner kick, followed by a cross from the other side of the box, before making a save from in tight by Kimba.

It was the Rangers who opened the scoring, 17 minutes into the opening frame. Rizzitano played a left-footed cross from the far side that landed in the box to find the foot of a wide-open Schmidt. The midfielder took a right-footed strike on the first time, curling into the bottom-left corner to beat the NMU keeper and give her team the lead.

The Wildcats responded with an opportunity, this time from the foot of Bilbia. The forward beat her defender on the left side of the box and drove toward the near side post. Biblia, one on one with the keeper, hit a left-footed ball toward the far side post, but Cross made a diving save.

The Wildcats were inches from tying up the game halfway through the first, as a perfectly placed ball found Moreno all alone just outside of the goalkeeper's area. Moreno played a perfect header toward goal that beat the Parkside keeper, but rang off the crossbar, and the Rangers escaped unscathed. 

The Wildcats broke through off a well-earned penalty. Bilbia played a perfect through-ball to Moreno, who beat her defender and found herself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Cross, who came off her line and fouled the Wildcat attacker, drawing a booking from the referee and a penalty for the 'Cats. Alexander stepped up and hit a right-footed strike that beat Cross, notching the game at one apiece. 

Lorens made a spectacular individual effort to steal the ball from a Parkside defender and had a clean breakaway against the goalkeeper with three minutes to play. Lorens got into the box and let go a right-footed strike that found the hands of Cross, and the game remained scoreless going into the halftime break.

The Wildcats had a great look to take the lead as the second half came underway. A cross was played to Bilbia, who got a lot of pace on a header from just inside the box, but Cross moved laterally in time to find a save. A few minutes later, Nissen had a right-footed shot that was headed toward the left post, which narrowly missed on the outside. 

The Rangers would retake the lead ten minutes into the half, as Dahlinger spun around onto her left foot and struck a ball into the upper right corner past the outstretched hand of Sides.

Sides kept her team in the match with just under seven minutes left, as Rizzitano was alone with the keeper after receiving a through ball. Sides came off her line to challenge, cutting down the angle well and making a critical save. 

In the final minute, Kastamo worked her way into the box and earned a corner kick with 45 seconds left. Alexander's delivery was good, but a Ranger defender cleared away the chance, and this game would end 2-1.

Up Next
NMU returns home for another lengthy home stand, ending September and beginning October with five consecutive home games, starting by welcoming Grand Valley State and Davenport next weekend.



 
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Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
17:08
Ranger Kayden Schmidt (1)
Assisted By: Ava Rizzitano
GOAL by Ranger Schmidt, Kayden Assist by Rizzitano, Ava.
26:57
Cats Kenna Alexander
Cats Kenna Alexander PENALTY KICK GOAL.
55:43
Ranger Lindsay Dahlinger (1)
Assisted By: Emily Mikkelson
GOAL by Ranger Dahlinger, Lindsay Assist by Mikkelson, Emily.

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