Northern Michigan University's Ryan Palmbaum left, works to get to the ball against a Quincy player during their college men's soccer game played at the NMU Soccer Field on Sept. 5in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — The men’s soccer team at Northern Michigan University looks to build on the momentum gained on the road last weekend for a pair of home matches for Wildcat Weekend.

The Wildcats host Northwood at 3 p.m. Friday and Saginaw Valley State at 2 p.m. Sunday at the NMU Soccer Field.

On Sunday, NMU not only picked up its first road win of the season, a 2-1 victory at Wisconsin-Parkside, but it marked the first time Northern had ever beaten the Rangers.

The Wildcats, who are 2-6-2 overall and 2-4-1 in the GLIAC, got both goals on Sunday from Brady Kronenburg and both assists from Kaffie Kurz. They were first points of the season scored by both players.

Northern goalkeeper Alex Weaver played the whole match and made two saves for his second win of the season.

“Parkside is a really solid team,” NMU head coach David Poggi said of the Rangers, who were at 7-3-1 overall and 4-3 in the GLIAC after the contest. “We played better than we did the last time we were out and we got a solid result because of that. We had a good attitude on the bench and on the field.

“The win brings us back to the starting line. We learned from our mistakes early in the season and we are working on continuing to improve.

A pair of NMU players are among league leaders in five statistical categories. Junior midfielder Ryan Palmbaum is second in the GLIAC in totals shots with 39.

Junior goalkeeper Jonas Vorbau is in four sets of rankings — first in overall safe percentage at .793, second in goals against with six and fifth in both saves with 23 and goals against average at 1.49.

While the Wildcats are in seventh place in the eight-team GLIAC, Northwood is behind NMU with a 1-5-1 conference record and 2-8-1 overall mark. SVSU is tied for third at 4-3 in the GLIAC and is 7-4 overall.

“The two matches in a weekend are difficult for freshman and traveling teams,” Poggi said. “It is nice for us to be home against two good teams on one of those weekends. These upcoming matches will help us continue to gain insight on what to do and what not to do moving forward.”

Fans can follow this NMU team and other Wildcats squads on Twitter at @NMU_Wildcats.

Fans can also follow this weekend’s matches.

For Friday vs. Northwood, video is available at nmuwildcats.com/links/0j1o2m and live statistics at nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20211015_7jti.xml.

For Sunday vs. SVSU, video can be found at nmuwildcats.com/links/0j1o2m and live stats at nmuwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2021-22/boxscores/20211017_nnnq.xml.

Information prepared by NMU Athletics Communications intern Emily Jennings and compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.