NMU women get tie, win in Ohio
Trending
CEDARVILLE, Ohio -- It was two for the price of one location for the women's soccer team at Northern Michigan University.
The Wildcats traveled to southeastern Ohio to play their hosts, Cedarville University, on Thursday. Then they stayed there as former Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Northwood from the Lower Peninsula also traveled south and played NMU on Sunday.
Northern's record was affected favorably with a scoreless draw vs. Cedarville and a 3-1 win over Northwood, so now the Wildcats stand at 3-0-1 entering conference play this week.
NMU hosts national powerhouse Grand Valley State at 3 p.m. Friday at the NMU Soccer Field, then entertains Saginaw Valley State at noon Sunday back at the field overlooking Lake Superior.
Here are details from the trip to Ohio:
NMU 0, Cedarville 0
On Thursday evening, the goalkeepers got to shine as each posted a shutout. Northern's Carly Sides fended off all five shots on goal she faced, while Yellow Jackets' netminder Ann Taylor stopped the two shots on goal she went up against.
In overall shots, Cedarville also had a 7-5 advantage, with the Jackets taking three of the five corner kicks and being called for more fouls, too, 10-7. Each team received two yellow cards, three in the final 31 minutes.
This was Sides' second career shutout and most saves she made in a shutout. They weren't just numbers; one save came on a full extension that kept the ball out of her own net.
Three starting Wildcat defenders each played all 90 minutes -- Irene Kiilunen, Ava Buhlman and Riley Hill.
"Another great contest for us against a quality opponent, and we were up for it!" Wildcats head coach Erin Egolf said in an NMU Sports Information news release detailing the game. "This was the best I've seen us play defensively; we were organized, tough to break down and disciplined.
"On the ball, we moved it well and created a handful of real chances, and I can't say enough about how the girls competed.... We had major contributions from every player who entered, and everyone gave a massive effort and a deserved point on the road."
Senior captain Madison Bilbia took four of Northern's five shots, including both on target, and also produced a dangerous opportunity early in the second half that barely was kept out of the Cedarville net.
NMU 3, Northwood 1
On Sunday afternoon, the Wildcats dented the scoreboard in the first 15 minutes, then added a pair of insurance goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half before the Timberwolves averted the shutout with a little more than 20 minutes left.
Other statistics were just as dominant in NMU's favor, with a 16-5 advantage in total shots and 8-3 in shots on goal. Northern also took four of the six corner kicks as each team was whistled for six fouls.
Freshman Sole Corley opened the scoring exactly 12 minutes in with her first collegiate goal, finishing off a sweet passing play from forwards Alyse Daavettila and Lily Senese, NMU SI said.
Northern senior Isabella Lorens became a professional insurance salesperson, putting extra goals on the board for her team separated by just over 13 minutes after the teams returned from the halftime intermission.
Her first goal, just 57 seconds into the second half, came after defender Irene Kiilunen took a free kick that set up Lorens for a header off a deep set piece.
"After a tough game on Friday, we knew we would be in for another battle," Egolf said in the NMU SI report detailing this match. "We were all over them in the first 15 minutes, and Sole scored a deserved team goal.
"We put (Northwood) under a lot of pressure and created chances, which was good to see, and then Bella scored two nice goals in the second half to put the game away."
Sides made two saves and didn't allow in a goal until her teammates built a three-goal lead.
"I'm not thrilled with conceding, but we are coming home with four points from a road trip against competitive in-region opponents, and that is huge," Egolf said about a win being worth three points and a tie worth one. "This group works so hard, and we have had really good soccer moments through our nonconference schedule."
Story contents based on two Northern Michigan University Sports Information press releases reviewing the games. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.