Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team falls to nation’s top team Grand Valley State, then posts win over conference foe Davenport | News, Sports, Jobs

Playing at home, NMU lost to top-ranked Grand Valley State 1-0, allowing the only goal more than an hour into the game, before bouncing back for a 3-0 victory over the Panthers.

Northern stands 3-2-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference with a GLIAC road trip scheduled later this week. The Wildcats travel to Chicago to play Roosevelt for the first time at 3 p.m. EDT Friday, then work their way around the southern end of Lake Michigan to take on Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana, at noon EDT Sunday.

Northern returns home the following weekend for more conference matches, hosting Ferris State on Friday, Oct. 4, and Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Here is a rundown of this last weekend’s play:

Northern Michigan University’s Kenna Alexander, right, and Grand Valley State’s Taylor Reid vie for control of the ball during their college women’s soccer game held at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

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Grand Valley State

1, NMU 0

On Friday afternoon at the NMU Soccer Field, the nation’s No. 1 team improved to 4-0-1 when Ella Kleiver scored her first goal of the season in the 66th minute. Teammate Taylor Reid gained control of the ball and sent it to Kleiver, who got the ball just under Northern goaltender Sally Patton, according to a game account provided by NMU Sports Information.

In her third start this season, Patton finished with five saves as the Wildcats actually outshot the Lakers, 21-14 overall and 7-6 in shots on goal. In the first half, Patton made an impressive save around the 29-minute mark, leaping to tip the ball away from the high right corner, according to NMU SI.

Four of Patton’s saves came in a scoreless first half as GVSU had a 4-3 shots on goal advantage before NMU turned the tables in the second half despite not scoring, holding a 4-2 shots on goal edge then.

Corner kicks were nearly even with Northern getting seven and Grand Valley six.

In addition to Kleiver’s goal, the other memorable thing about this game was a lengthy lightning delay called with just under 15 minutes to go, about 10 minutes after the goal.

When play resumed, NMU got off seven shots without an answer from the Lakers, but couldn’t get one in past GVSU goalie Cailynn Junk, according to NMU SI.

Madison Bilbia, Justina L’Esperance and Angelina Perritano led the Wildcats with four shots apiece, while Bilbia and Brooke Pietila, who had three total shots, each took two shots on goal.

The Wildcats were blanked despite recording eight shots from inside the box throughout the game and seven unanswered in the final stretch after play resumed. This shutout broke a 17-game scoring streak for NMU, which was last left with a zero in their scoring column during a scoreless home draw vs. GVSU on Sept. 29, 2023.

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NMU 3, Davenport 0

On Sunday afternoon at the NMU Soccer Field, the statistics showed a fairly even game, but the play — and the scoring — proved the Wildcats were dominant from start to finish, according to NMU SI.

“We were pretty close to (a complete 90-minute) performance, and I think we did a good job at managing the game,” Northern head coach Jon Sandoval said in an NMU SI account of the game. “We were not great … but good teams find a way (to win) when they aren’t playing their best, and we did that.”

Patton made three saves to score the shutout, her second as a Wildcat, as Sandoval’s teams are now 29-3-7 at home since he took over head coaching duties early in 2020.

Northern showcased strong offensive plays and solid defense, according to NMU SI, as Hannah Kastamo opened the scoring with her second goal this season in the 22nd minute.

Pietila initiated the scoring play with a strong service from a corner kick, allowing teammate Irene Kiilunen to expertly return the ball into the box. This paved the way for Kastamo, who seized the opportunity to score.

Then barely 13 minutes later, the Wildcats’ Molly Pistorius initiated a breakaway, racing past defenders to take a shot before DU goalkeeper Elizabeth Wolter made the save. Quick to react, Northern’s Allison Kroll hustled in for the rebound and scored.

By halftime, NMU not only had a 2-0 lead, but was outshooting the Panthers 12-2, including 5-1 in shots on goal. Northern also had the only three corner kicks of the opening half.

Things evened out in the second half, but Northern still got the only goal of the final 45 minutes. In the 66th minute, Pietila struck from just outside the box, powering the ball into the bottom right corner, according to NMU SI.

Down the stretch, Davenport’s Madison Fant managed to slide the ball past Patton, sending it out of her reach and toward the left post. But just as it looked poised to go in the net, Northern’s Maria Storm stepped in at the last moment, clearing the ball away.

Nevertheless, DU held 11-4 overall shots and 3-2 shots on goal advantages in the second half to even up the final statistics quite a bit.

Pietila now has 15 career goals as a Wildcat, while Pistorius’ second assist this season ties her for the team lead in that category.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.