NMU women fit to be tied on soccer pitch
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MARQUETTE -- At least when looking at the results, the women's soccer team at Northern Michigan University looks like it's fit to be tied.
The Wildcats tied for the second straight time on Sunday, 0-0 at its home NMU Soccer Field against Ferris State, to remain just outside a home field berth in the first round of the conference tournament.
The top four teams in the 11-school Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference earn home field to face seeds 5 through 8 in the opening round, the bottom three teams in the standings being left behind altogether.
Northern moved to 8-3-5 overall and 5-3-4 in the GLIAC, good for 19 points and fifth place. The Wildcats are on a nine-match unbeaten streak where they've gone 5-0-4.
NMU is just one point behind a pair of teams tied for third, Davenport and Saginaw Valley State with identical 6-4-2 league marks and 20 points.
Northern is also just three points in back of second-place Grand Valley State's (6-2-4 GLIAC) 22 points.
But time is running out as every league team has just two games remaining. The Wildcats go on the road this week, playing at third-place Davenport at noon Thursday and at second-place GVSU at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The GLIAC Tournament opens next Tuesday at the top four seeds, with quarterfinal winners advancing to the semis on Friday, Nov. 6, and championship on Sunday, Nov. 8.
On Sunday, despite the even score, Northern controlled play, outshooting their guests 17-4 even as the Bulldogs had two shots on goal to just one for NMU.
The Wildcats also had seven corner kicks to the Bulldogs' five.
Before play began, Northern honored five seniors, Madison Bilbia, Ava Buhlman, Isabella Lorens, Madalyn Nissen and Emily Whyte.
The Wildcats were also noted for having a 60% possession advantage, according to a game account from NMU Sports Information, with narrow misses of shots by Lorens, Sole Corley, Cecilia Wille and back-to-back corner kicks from Gretchen Ellis.
Northern goalkeeper Carly Sides earned the shutout with two saves, once off a great strike by FSU's Haley Buckman.
Corley finished with four shots and Alyse Daaettila three, while Nissen's lone shot was also her squad's lone shot on goal.
Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the game. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.