Huskies Host Rival Northern Michigan in Regular Season Finale
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech soccer team will host rival Northern Michigan University on Senior Day in the 2017 regular season finale Friday at Sherman Field. The Huskies will face the Wildcats for the second time this season, having won in Marquette 1-0 on October 8th. Sophomore Katri Studtmann had the game winning goal against NMU in the October 8th match.
Prior to Friday's match, the Huskies will honor four seniors who have made the Michigan Tech soccer program one of the best in the GLIAC and country. In four seasons, Taylor Archibald, Sarah Boyd, Kirsen Hudak, and Olivia Smith have helped the program amass 37 wins, advance to the NCAA Regional tournament, and a GLIAC Tournament Championship game.
Michigan Tech (5-9-1) will play on past Friday's match after advancing to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. The Huskies are the No. 8 seed and will play at top seeded Grand Valley State University on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Friday's match against Northern Michigan (3-10-2) is a non-conference contest and the outcome has no bearing on the GLIAC standings.
The Huskies fell last weekend to a pair of very good teams in Grand Valley State and Ferris State at Sherman Field. Tech gave GVSU all they could handle on Friday and stayed within striking distance all the way to the end before falling 2-0. The Huskies lost a hard fought defensive battle 1-0 against Ferris State to close the weekend Sunday.
Archibald, Boyd, Studtmann, junior Marisa DeMario, and freshman Brooke Schauer all share the team lead in goals with two apiece going into the weekend. Archibald has also dished out two assists, giving her a team best six points when the goals are added in. Freshman Emily Zeitunian has five points on the strength of one goal and a team leading three assists this season.
Hudak enters Friday's match coming off a career performance against the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. Hudak generated a career best 15 saves and has chalked up 63 total saves in 13 matches played this season. Hudak leads the GLIAC in save percentage at .851 and is giving up less than one goal per contest. She is second in the conference in fewest goals allowed (11).
As a team, Tech has been tough against some of the best offenses this season, surrendering only 1.10 goals per game. The Huskies have had 12 matches this year decided by one goal and they compete hard every time they take the field.
Northern Michigan is also advancing to the GLIAC Tournament and will play at second seeded Ashland in the GLIAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Wildcats are led by freshman Jenna Halonen with seven goals, two assists, and 16 points. Northern Michigan has two other players with two goals each, but Halonen is their go to forward on offense.
Defensively, freshman goalie Brianna Frontuto has logged the majority of minutes in net going into the final regular season match. She has made 76 total saves and is surrendering 1.66 goals per match with 25 total goals given up to opponents.
Friday's match is slated for 5 p.m. and fans can follow the action through live video and stats by clicking here.