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NMU women's soccer to host Tech today

Northern Michigan University goalkeeper Brianna Frontuto kicks the ball downfield during the second half of a game against Minnesota Duluth Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. (Journal photo by Ryan Stieg)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team will have been off a full week when they host Upper Peninsula and GLIAC rival Michigan Tech at noon Sunday at the NMU Soccer Field.

The Wildcats’ last game was Sunday’s 2-1 home loss to No. 17 Ferris State.

The team can be followed online at the team’s schedule or school’s composite calendar at www.NMUwildcats.com, or at these links — the game program at http://www.nmuwildcats.com/programs, Twitter updates at https://twitter.com/NMU_Wildcats, live stats at https://bit.ly/2xvRQHl and live video at https://bit.ly/2gKCaqA.

Northern (4-3-2, 1-1 GLIAC) and Tech (4-3-1, 0-2) have split their 14 matches dating to 2010, going 6-6-2 against each other. Last season, they each won on the other team’s home field.

NMU split its first two GLIAC matches last weekend, also defeating Northwood 1-0 last Friday.

Freshman forward Taelor Moore scored the Wildcats’ lone goal Friday, as did freshman forward Caroline Halonen vs. Ferris.

Northern is allowing less than a goal per game (0.94) that includes three shutouts and only three games where opponents have multiple goals. Sophomore goalkeeper Brianna Frontuto has anchored he Wildcats’ defense, playing nearly 80 percent of the team’s minutes with senior Emma Vermette filling in the balance. Frontuto has a goals against average of 0.96 and save percentage of .837, ranked top-five in the conference in each category.

Three Wildcat defenders have appeared in every match this season to lead the defensive turnaround — junior Gaelin Hirabayashi, senior Sophia Sachs and senior Anna Worman. Freshman Kiera Scanlan has also made her presence in the back line, appearing in eight matches.

Halonen has led the Northern turnaround on the attack, leading the GLIAC in nearly every offensive category. Her 19 points are the most for a Wildcat since Paula Hafner in 2014, while her seven goals and five assists also lead the league.

A number of other teammates have also helped the team more than double its goal scoring rate from last year, up from slightly under one goal per game last year to more than two in 2018. Moore and sophomore forward Jenna Halonen, Caroline’s sister, each have three goals, while six more Wildcats have netted one apiece.

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

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