Thomas More’s Tim Stolz, right, is unable to block a kick by Northern Michigan University’s Tommaso Lami during their college men’s soccer game played at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s soccer team is off to a historic start as head coach Alex Fatovic couldn’t be prouder of his team’s grit and determination.
Coming off last week’s impressive 3-0 win against Thomas More University and a dramatic 2-2 draw against nationally ranked Lewis University, the Wildcats head into GLIAC play riding a wave of momentum, not to mention their best-ever start at 3-0-1, when they play at St. Cloud State at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday.
It’s especially impressive after last year’s NMU men’s team was starved of offense on its way to a 2-10-4 record, meaning this year’s group has already exceeded that win total. And last year’s Wildcats managed just 10 goals in 16 games with this year’s squad already amassing eight tallies in just four games.
Speaking earlier this week during a media availability session, Fatovic highlighted his team’s ability to fight back from adversity, particularly during the game against Lewis, when the Wildcats overcame a 2-0 deficit in the final 30 minutes to earn a hard-fought draw at home.
“Everyone saw it,” Fatovic said of the Lewis match. “Twenty-five minutes to go, we’re able to find two goals, especially from guys that aren’t necessarily the goal scorers.
“So I think it’s a tremendous sign that these guys are not willing to give up and they’re going to fight back and if you look at the stats, we thoroughly dominated the whole game and should have never been behind.
“So if we’re going to learn that lesson, now’s the time, you know, a nonconference (match), when we can dig ourselves out.”
The Wildcats’ resolve in that comeback set the tone for their performance against Thomas More. NMU took control early and never looked back, securing a 3-0 win with Alessandro Scialanga leading the charge, netting two goals. Teammate Kyle Cameron added his first collegiate goal as insurance in the waning moments.
Fatovic noted that Northern is starting to gel, with better ball movement and a stronger defensive presence as the Wildcats also recorded their third shutout in four matches.
“He (Scialanga) was fantastic, but … the whole team was solid, building out making sure that we didn’t concede,” Fatovic said. “It’s our third shutout, which for me is something very important and for someone like Kyle (Cameron) to come on, who hasn’t really played much yet, he’s been injured all season, to get that 90th-minute goal.
“And just to see the celebrations, you can see how connected the guys are. So great day. You’re never going to complain about a win at home and a dominant performance, but we’re always going to look at the tape and try to get better.”
Fatovic was quick to point out that while NMU has been dominant, there’s still work to be done, especially in finding the back of the net earlier in games.
“We’ve got to score earlier goals and not keep teams around (in the game) so long,” he said.
Fatovic also spoke highly of team captain Tommaso Lami, whose leadership has been key to the Wildcats’ success.
“Tommaso leads by example more than anything,” Fatovic said. “It’s his work, his work rate, his passion. You can see it when you watch him play out on the field, but that’s the level of energy he brings day in and day out, in the locker room, on the training pitch.
“His passion for the game, his passion for his team, is unmatched. It’s unrivaled.
“So, it’s a great representation. It’s a great thing for the young players to strive towards, because that’s how your captain should be.”
As the Wildcats prepare for their GLIAC opener at St. Cloud State at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday, Fatovic emphasized the importance of rest and recovery after a long nonconference slate.
St. Cloud presents a tough challenge, coming off a seven-goal performance in their last match. Fatovic knows his team must be ready for a tough fight.
“It’s the first conference game, so everybody’s going to be up for it,” Fatovic said. “So there’s nothing that we’re going to take into this game lightly. It’s going to be a very, very tough game, and hopefully we come out of it with three points.”
Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.
