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Huskies charge past Wildcats

Tech outplays, shuts out NMU women strikers

Northern Michigan University's Taelor Moore, right, moves the ball toward the Michigan Tech net as the Huskies' Rachel Wall tries to defend during their nonconference game on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, at the NMU Soccer Field. (Journal photo by Ryan Stieg)

MARQUETTE — Rivalry games tend to bring out strong performances from the combatants, but Sunday’s matchup between Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech universities ended up being quite one-sided.

The visiting Huskies (5-3-1) controlled play for the majority of the game and finally got on the scoreboard in the 72nd minute on a long cross from Grace Shaw to Jesse Jacobusse, who tapped it past Wildcats goalie Emma Vermette and over the line at the near post to give Tech a 1-0 victory.

Though both teams are members of the GLIAC, this was considered a nonconference game. Their regular season-ending game in Houghton on Oct. 26 will be their conference matchup.

“We were able to play Grace a beautiful ball kind of out wide and she played it in and Jesse got herself in the right place,” MTU head coach Michelle Jacob said. “We always talk about attacking in on the weak side, and coming in late, so you’re running at the ball, and I thought she did a great job to do that and get a touch on it and put it in.”

The score didn’t tell the tale of Tech’s dominance as it heavily outshot Northern 27-12, including 11-3 on shots on net and all six in the first half.

From the opening whistle, the Huskies put pressure on the Vermette and the NMU (4-4-2) defense. Nine minutes in, Vermette had to make a sliding save in front of two Tech forwards and then made a save from her knees just seconds later. She finished with 10 saves.

At the other end of the field, Huskies’ defenders kept Northern’s front line from getting within 15 yards of the net. NMU didn’t register its first quality scoring chance until 17 minutes remained in the opening half when Taelor Moore veered her way around a Huskies defender, got a good look at the net, but the sent the ball wide of the near post.

The Huskies, meanwhile, had two great opportunities to get on the board. With 19 minutes left, Tech’s Rachel Wall stole the ball from Moore and had an open path to the net, but her pass to the far post went wide.

With 11 minutes remaining, Wall got another chance to cash in as she sent a long shot on net, but Vermette came up big again. She made a leaping catch, bobbled it on the way down, but recovered it before the Huskies could tap in the rebound.

In the second half, Tech amped up the pressure as it fired 15 shots. Seven minutes into the half, Shaw made a good rush toward the net, but her shot bounced just wide. NMU answered with a scoring chance a minute later as midfielder Aimee Colla sent a cross over to Moore, who had an open net, but her shot went wide.

With 31 minutes left, it appeared the Wildcats had scored, but the goal was waved off quickly due to a hand ball. NMU players protested that the goal should count because they were shoved into touching the ball, but it was to no avail. During the play, Tech goalie Erika Gabriel was injured and replaced by Amanda Young, who earned the win.

“Amanda’s played a lot for us and she’s experienced and she’s a very calm person, so I don’t think it fazed her at all,” Jacob said. “I thought Erica, stepping in to start the second half, did a good job the couple of times she had to deal with anything.

“I was proud of their performances and I was proud of our back line’s performance. I thought they really did a good job, especially against the counterattack and the long ball that Northern was playing. They handled it well.”

NMU had another opportunity to score with 20 minutes left as Colla made a cross in front to forward Rachael Erste, but her shot went high over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Jacobusse tallied her goal and the Huskies shut down the Wildcats the rest of the way.

When asked how she’s feeling heading into the final month of the regular season, Jacob said she’s feeling positive and that after losing twice last week at home, it felt good to get back in the win column.

“I’m feeling good,” she said. “We always want to make it better, and we want to play better and we want to clean up some of the mistakes. Especially after a tough weekend last weekend, we’re happy to walk away with a win.”

The Wildcats play at Davenport on Friday, while the Huskies head to Grand Valley State.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.

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