Northern Michigan University’s Justina L’Esperance makes a throw-in during a GLIAC women’s soccer game played against Saginaw Valley State at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Sunday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — A pair of players were recognized for having outstanding weekends at home for the Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team.

On Friday, fifth-year senior Brooke Pietila set the Wildcats’ career assist record when she recorded her 23rd helper in a 3-0 victory over Ferris State at the NMU Soccer Field.

Then on Monday, following NMU’s sweep of the weekend after a 3-1 win over Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, junior middle fielder Justina L’Esperance was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week.

L’Esperance had a hand in all three goals against Ferris State, registering a goal and two assists, then added a goal and assist vs. SVSU, setting up teammate Molly Pistorius’ game-wining goal before scoring an insurance marker later.

That finished off a seven-point weekend as goals are worth two points and assists one, and L’Esperance now leads the conference in assists, assists per game, points and points per game. She’s also second in the GLIAC in goals and goals per game. She has five goals, five assists and 15 points.

The Wildcats improved to 6-2-2 overall and 4-1-1 in the conference games and are atop the GLIAC based on winning percentage. They are the equivalent of a half-game ahead of Purdue Northwest, which is 2-0-3 in league contests, Ferris State (3-1-1) and Grand Valley State (3-1-2).

Northern has a five-game unbeaten streak overall and six-game unbeaten streak at home.

NMU hits the road for three straight games before returning home to finish this month and start November.

On Friday, in a game that was changed from its originally scheduled date of Sunday, the Wildcats play in Houghton at Michigan Tech at 4 p.m. in a game scheduled to be televised on Fox-U.P. Next week are games at Ferris State on Oct. 18 and at Davenport on Oct. 20.

The return home includes game vs. Roosevelt at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25, vs. Purdue Northwest at noon on Sunday, Oct. 27, and vs. Wisconsin-Parkside at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1.

Here are details on last weekend’s games:

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NMU 3, Ferris State 0

On Friday at the NMU Soccer Field, Pietila beat out a record previously held by Rachel Vilders set from 2001-04.

“It was a great team effort after a terrific week of training,” Northern head coach Jon Sandoval said in an NMU Sports Information news release about the game. “The group did a really good job at taking a hard look in the mirror and realizing our potential and what we can do, and when you have the kind of leadership and a group that believes in those kinds of things, success follows.”

The coach is also pleased to see a defensive player get the recognition that Pietila has.

“She’s both sides of the ball for us, and it’s hard to see the stats on the defensive side, so it’s great for her to get that recognition after all of the hard work and dedication that she’s put into this program,” Sandoval said. “She was an incoming freshman my first year as a coach, and to see her evolve as a person and a player has been really remarkable.”

NMU not only dominated the scoreboard, but statistically, too, outshooting Ferris 17-9 in overall shots and 7-4 in shots on goal. Northern also took five of the game’s six corner kicks.

Sally Patton made four saves for her not only her fourth shutout this season, but fourth in a row. It also marked Sandoval’s 30th win at home as head coach as his teams have a sterling 30-3-7 record in Marquette.

With L’Esperance registering a goal and two assists, it was her second career game with four points and first time with multiple assists.

The Wildcats didn’t need much time to break the scoreless tie as Pistorius scored in the eighth minute. NMU mounted a swift attack down the left flank just seven minutes into the game, according to NMU SI. L’Esperance received the ball, expertly navigated the left side and crossed the ball into the box. Pistorius positioned herself perfectly, timing her run with a powerful finish to sail the ball into the back of the net.

Then with just under 10 minutes left in the first half, Pietila lined up for a free kick from just over the attacking side of midfield. With power, Pietila sent the ball soaring toward the goal, according to NMU SI. L’Esperance timed her jump to meet the ball with a decisive header, directing the ball past Bulldogs first-half goalkeeper Lauren Kubacki to make it 2-0.

At the break, Northern outshot the Bulldogs 11-2, with five on target to none, while amassing three corner kicks.

The Wildcats needed even less time to score again to start the second half. Just 2:15 in, Pietila made it 3-0 as NMU continued to apply pressure and L’Esperance seized the moment and threaded a perfectly weighted through ball past the FSU defense, setting up Pietila for a clear shot, according to NMU SI.

Pietila, quick on her feet, made a confident run and struck the ball with precision, sending it past second-half keeper Morgan Fillion’s outstretched hand into the right corner of the net.

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NMU 3, Saginaw Valley St. 1

On Sunday at the NMU Soccer Field, the Wildcats were actually more dominant in the statistics even as the score was tied until the final 30 minutes.

Northern held a big 24-3 overall shots advantage, including 12-1 in shots on goal. But that one shot for the Cardinals became a goal in the game’s 64th minute.

“The team showed up and chose to fight and play for each other today,” Sandoval said in an NMU SI release on this game. “They showed a lot of grit and resilience after (the Cardinals) leveled it up. I couldn’t be more proud of this group’s effort.”

He also knew windy conditions — gusts measured up to 30 mph — tended to even up the teams on this day.

“This is what were raised in, and this is what we do on a daily basis, so this was nothing new to us,” Sandoval said. “Wind, rain or snow, we use it to our advantage.”

L’Esperance led the way with a goal and assist, while Hannah Kastamo and Pistorius both had goals, each their fourth of the season, Pietila added one more assist to her career record, Madison Bilbia had two assists — her first multi-assist game — and Lucy Burk also had an assist.

Scoring began in the 14th minute from a corner kick, with Bilbia taking a short pass off the kick to Pietila, according to NMU SI. Pietila used quick footwork to find Kastamo, who didn’t hesitate and finished the play with her boot.

The score remained 1-0 until the 64th minute, when the Cardinals’ Lauryn Fracassi set up teammate Jaidyn Veldhouse with a perfectly timed pass to knot the score.

Then just 28 seconds later, Bilbia connected with L’Esperance, volleying the ball back to Pistorius, who was perfectly positioned to meet the volley and execute a powerful header that found the back of the net.

A little over 14 minutes later, Burke set up Northern’s insurance goal, sending a cross through the box that found L’Esperance sitting at the left goal post, who closed this game out with her goal.

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