PREVIEW: Men's Soccer Opens 2025 Campaign at Home

The Wildcats host Northwood and Lawrence Tech on opening weekend

MARQUETTE, Mich. - A new season begins this weekend, as head coach Alex Fatovic and the Wildcat men's soccer team hosts a pair of non-conference opponents in Northwood and Lawrence Tech.

The home opener against G-MAC (NCAA DII) foe Northwood is slated for Thursday, September 4, at 12 p.m., before rounding out the weekend with WHAC (NAIA DII) opponent Lawrence Tech on Saturday, September 6, with a 12 p.m. kick-off.

The 'Cats have faced the Timberwolves twice in the Fatovic era, dropping a 4-2 decision in the home opener at Marquette in 2023 before returning tha favor with a 1-0 win on Northwood's home pitch during the season opener in 2024. All-time, the 'Cats are 3-11-1 against the Timberwolves, dating back to 2016 when they were a member of the GLIAC.

This will be a first regular season meeting between the Wildcats and the Blue Devils, as the 'Cats welcome an NAIA side that has played three regular season games ahead of the clash in Marquette. All three games for the Blue Devils have been losses against ranked opponents, while the team has yet to produce a goal in any of the contests.

Follow The Action
Follow @NMU_Msoc on Instagram and @NMU_Mens_Soccer on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the games.

Thursday, September 4 - vs. Northwood at 12 PM
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Saturday, September 6 - vs. Lawrence Tech at 12 PM
Watch | Live Stats

Hear from Alex Fatovic
"How can you set the tone and set the energy level in every match, no matter who you play, and when you do get knocked down, can you get up and keep playing. That is our mentality, and we don't take any game lightly... You have to be resilient, and you have to be able to get back up."

Previewing the New Season
The NMU men's soccer team has been selected to finish seventh ahead of the 2025 campaign, as voted on by the coaches.

2025 GLIAC Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Saginaw Valley State 36 (6)
2. Roosevelt 31 (1)
3. Parkside 20
4. Davenport 19
5. Purdue Northwest 17
6. St. Cloud State 16
7. Northern Michigan 8

Head coach Alex Fatovic and assistant coach Chance Vang both return to the helm, Fatovic in his fourth season and Vang in his second. Despite missing the postseason last year, Fatovic guided the 'Cats to six wins, four more than the 2023 campaign, the second-most single-season wins in program history, and the most wins since 2019.

"[The student-athletes] know they were last place last year, and they've used that as fuel and motivation to work for three straight months in January, February, and March, the hardest months of the year, to get better and respond to the disappointment of last year," adds Fatovic, who enters his fourth year as the head coach after posting the most single-season wins since 2019 in 2024. "The poll is just another step in the path that we're on, and that's redemption."

"We have some really exciting players coming in that will add immediate depth to our rotation, but I am more excited about our returning players who put up seven goals against an NCAA Tournament team [in The Superior Dome] in April. They're driving the train, they're the one's who are fit and focused, and I am excited to see what they do."

Among the returners is senior captain Alessandro Scialanga, who is coming off a season that saw him earn Second Team All-Midwest Region honors and a spot on the First Team All-GLIAC team after leading the 'Cats in minutes played, assists, points, and second on the team in goals.

"The difference between us and the other teams in the conference is not big, we know that, and that brings a lot of hope that we can get there. We all know that we can get there, and it's important for the new players to understand that too... We have a lot of good technical abilities and tactical abilities, but we want our group to be humble and understand that work ethic comes before everything. "

The 'Cats also return GLIAC Honorable Mention Quint Van Roij, NMU Breakthrough Athlete of the Year Davian Gumbs, and consistent starting-eleven squad members in Xhoel Lutaj, James Carr, and captain Jan Hoffmann.

"You see the ambition, the courage, and the power that our team brings," says senior midfielder Hoffmann, who has been a consistent feature for the Wildcats in his three-year tenure. " We need to bring that consistent foundation of energy, as well as intrinsic motivation. Everyone needs to come in hot."

A Look at Northwood
The Timberwolves were selected to finish ninth in the G-MAC Coaches Preseason Poll, announced on August 26, 2025. The team finished 2024 with a 4-11-2 record after finishing 6-8-4 in 2023 and 8-6-4 in 2022. Leading the Timberwolves is senior forward Nathan Casal, who led the team in goals (6) and points (12) last season. Three netminders saw equal amounts of action last season, with the only returner being sophomore Albie Perez. Head coach Stevie Shard enters his eighth season as bench boss, where he has overseen his club produce six or more wins in all but three of his campaigns.

A Look at Lawrence Tech
The Blue Devils, led by head coach Will Dyer entering his 15th season, are coming off a 7-8-4 record in 2024 after posting an 11-5-3 record in 2023. The team lost several key players who graduated in the spring, while returning senior captain Timo Murcko and a handful of underclassmen as the Blue Devils embrace its identity as a young team determined to fight back to the top. The team has played three regular season matches to this point, dropping contests to No. 21 Marian, RV Georgia Gwinnett, and No. 12 Lindsey Wilson, while being kept off the score sheet in all three games.

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Players Mentioned

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

#15 Davian Gumbs: D; 5' 9"; Junior

#13 Jan Hoffmann: MF; 5' 6"; Senior

#8 Xhoel Lutaj: MF; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#3 Alessandro Scialanga: D; 5' 11"; Senior

#6 Quint Van Roij: MF; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

#15 Davian Gumbs
: 5' 9"; Junior
: D

#13 Jan Hoffmann
: 5' 6"; Senior
: MF

#8 Xhoel Lutaj
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: MF

#3 Alessandro Scialanga
: 5' 11"; Senior
: D

#6 Quint Van Roij
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MF

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PREVIEW: Men's Soccer Opens 2025 Campaign at Home

The Wildcats host Northwood and Lawrence Tech on opening weekend

Players Mentioned

#2 James Carr

#15 Davian Gumbs

#13 Jan Hoffmann

#8 Xhoel Lutaj

#3 Alessandro Scialanga

#6 Quint Van Roij

Players Mentioned

#2 James Carr

#15 Davian Gumbs

#13 Jan Hoffmann

#8 Xhoel Lutaj

#3 Alessandro Scialanga

#6 Quint Van Roij