Tech Soccer Makes Their Way to No. 22 Northern Michigan Friday
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech soccer team caps its three-match road trip by taking on No. 22 Northern Michigan in Marquette on Friday at 7 p.m.
Fans can catch the contest on FloSports, as part of the four-year media partnership with the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference beginning this fall. Friday's game will also be aired locally on FOX-UP.
About the Wildcats
Northern Michigan, recently moving up one spot to 22nd in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, enters Friday's tilt with an overall standing of 7-1-2 while going 4-1-1 in GLIAC play.
The Wildcats four game win-streak was halted by a 2-1 loss to No. 7 Grand Valley State on Friday (Sept. 23), before posting a 1-1 tie with Davenport on Sunday (Sept. 25).
Justina L'Esperance tallied the lone goal for Northern Michigan versus the Lakers on Friday, while Molly Pistorius posted the match tying goal against Davenport.
NMU features one of the top offenses in the country, being ranked second in the nation in total points (96), total goals (34) and total assists (28).
Justina L'Esperance leads the Wildcats with seven goals, good for 17th in the nation, while Brooke Pietila is amongst the nations-best with six assists, placing her seventh on the list. Pietila is also 14th nationally with 18 points on the season.
About the Huskies
Michigan Tech owns a record of 3-5-2 overall with a ledger of 1-3-2 in the loop. Last weekend the Huskies played to a scoreless draw at Davenport on Friday (Sept. 23) before being edged by No. 7 Grand Valley State, 1-0 on Sunday (Sept. 25).
The Black & Gold paced the offense in the tie against Davenport, having a 4-3 advantage in shots, with both teams placing two shots on goal. The Huskies also lead 4-2 in corner kicks. Senior Alicia Shatrau and sophomore Julia Pietila accounted for the shots on goal.
Senior Gracie VanLangevelde stopped two shots, earning a league-leading four shutouts for the season.
In the Sunday contest, the Huskies held the No. 7 Lakers to just one goal, despite Grand Valley State averaging 2.2 goals a game this season.
Michigan Tech's two shots on goal came in the second half coming from Kiersen Korienek and Cassie Bonifas.
Of note, goalkeeper Gracie VanLangevelde stopped a season-high seven shots against the Lakers.
One Last Thing
VanLangevelde is in a 13-way tie for second in the nation, logging 900:00 minutes between the posts this season. The Spring Lake native is also 21st in the nation, with her four shutouts in ten games.