Northern Michigan University’s Brooke Pietila, right, passes the ball while defended by Saginaw Valley State’s Madi Bajis during their GLIAC game played at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Sunday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team has a big game ahead of it this afternoon with lots of eyes watching the Wildcats.

That because NMU will not only be playing in Houghton against its Upper Peninsula rival Michigan Tech, but television viewers around the U.P. can catch the action when the 4 p.m. game will be broadcast on Fox-U.P.

Northern has plenty of momentum coming in, having gone 4-0-1 in its last five games — only allowing one goal in that span — and taking over the top spot in the GLIAC at 4-1-1, 6-2-2 overall.

Tech, meanwhile, is mired in seventh place in the nine-team conference at 2-4, 4-5 overall.

The last time these rivals collided was on Nov. 2 when NMU won 1-0 even as the Huskies entered the game on a seven-game unbeaten streak. It was the end of the regular season and secured the Wildcats’ first GLIAC regular-season title on Senior Night.

Last weekend, NMU was at home and defeated league rivals Ferris State 3-0 and Saginaw Valley State 3-1. Tech in that time lost at home to those two teams, 1-0 to SVSU and 2-0 to Ferris.

“Houghton is a tough and hostile place to play,” Northern head coach Jon Sandoval said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. “This team is always a tough battle, and they always continue to fight, so it’s going to be a grind.

“We have to make sure that we’re up to the challenge in what we know is going to be an absolute fight.”

Wildcats junior midfielder Justina L’Esperance was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after amassing two goals and three assists in last weekend’s pair of games. She now leads the league with five assists and 15 points as her five goals are second. Her shots on goal also lead the conference.

NMU is in the top 10 in NCAA Division II in assists (in fifth place), goals (sixth), points (sixth) and assists per game (eighth). In scoring offense, the Wildcats top the GLIAC and are 15th nationally.

Fifth-year senior midfielder Brooke Pietila is Northern’s all-time leader in career assists after taking the top spot last weekend with her 23rd. She also has three goals and three assists for nine points in her last five games, moving into the top three in the GLIAC in goals, assists and points.

Netminder Sally Patton leads the conference with a 0.4 goals against average and is second in saves percentage at .864 and third with four shutouts.

All-time, NMU is 13-9-4 vs. Tech, including 6-4-3 in Houghton and 2-0-1 in their last three games there.

Julia Pietila leads the Huskies in scoring with six goals and an assist for 13 points, topping the GLIAC in goals and second to L’Esperance in points.

But Tech struggles on defense, allowing 1.33 goals per game with a .707 saves percentage.

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