By Journal Sports Staff

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s soccer team split a pair of games in its final home weekend of the season and made a star out of graduating senior and team captain Tommaso Lami.

He scored both of the Wildcats’ goals as NMU defeated Davenport 2-0 after falling to Saginaw Valley State 1-0.

For his efforts, Lami was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in his collegiate career.

“Our staff is extremely happy for Tommaso and the team after a wonderful performance (Sunday),” Northern head coach Alex Fatovic said in an NMU SI news releasea about the award. “Everyone at NMU and the GLIAC knows Tommaso has great qualities, but to score two goals of that level on his Senior Day, you can’t ask for much better.

“Bravo Tommy! Now do it again!”

It was Lami’s first multigoal game this season and third of his career at NMU. In the two games, he had the game-winning goal, five shots on goal and six shot attempts — a .833 shots on goal percentage — in 168 minutes played.

While the Wildcats still reside at the bottom of the GLIAC at 2-6-1 (5-6-2 overall), they are within a game of sixth-place Purdue Northwest, which is 2-4-2.

PNW is one of three teams remaining on Northern’s schedule as the Wildcats go to Chicago to face Roosevelt at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday, then around the southern end of Lake Michigan to Hammond, Indiana, to square off against Purdue NW at 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, Nov. 1, and finish the regular season in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to face Wisconsin-Parkside at 3:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Here is a rundown of the weekend’s home games:

Saginaw Valley St. 1, NMU 0

On Friday afternoon at the NMU Soccer Field, the wind wasn’t much of a friend to the home team as the only goal scored came in the 21st minute.

The Cardinals’ Jonny Monney scored his fifth of the season as he dribbled his way into the 18-yard box and took on two Wildcats defenders. He also got the ball past Northern freshman netminder Nils Cedergren by placing the ball into the left corner of the net, according to an NMU SI game account.

Despite being blanked, Northern held the ball in SVSU’s end most of the game, taking nine of the dozen corner kicks. That included eight of the nine in the second half.

But the Cards took advantage of their opportunities, outshooting the Wildcats 14-9 in total shots and 4-1 in shots on goal. Cedergren had three saves while SVSU counterpart Nick Kay was called on to make just one.

NMU started strong, keeping the ball in Saginaw’s end early and being awarded five free kicks in the first 15 minutes. But Northern couldn’t cash in.

After Monney scored, SVSU had a few more chances before intermission.

Then in the 74th minute during the second half, NMU was awarded another free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Alessandro Scialanga took the boot but the shot was deflected by the Cardinals’ player wall.

The Wildcats also had a chance as time was waning in the 87th minute, when Lami dribbled the ball deep into the 6-yard box, sending it across the front of the net and to the feet of teammate Teun Van Gansewinkel, who had his attempt blocked.

NMU 2, Davenport 0

On Sunday afternoon at the NMU Soccer Field, Lami made Senior Day extra special as he found the back of the net twice in the opening 15 minutes.

Head Coach Alex Fatovic credited his team’s hard-working effort for the win.

“We were able to get the early goal, which is what we’ve been searching for, and that allowed us to play all of our cards and I think the guys were fantastic all day long,” Fatovic said in the NMU SI account of this game.

“I came here two years ago as the youngest player, and now I am like the granddad,” Lami said. “I am so proud of them and I can’t wait to see them on their Senior Day.”

Teammate Logan Lazar also reflected on his final home game.

“Honestly, it’s a surreal feeling,” he said. “Four years ago, I wasn’t really thinking about this point, and it doesn’t really hit you until you’re finally playing your last game.

“Just looking over and seeing everyone’s family and the kids that I coached at Marquette United supporting us today was really special.”

And senior transfer Kyle Cameron also reflected after his second straight start.

“It’s been really special for me being a part of this team,” he said. “The environment is unlike any other place and I never thought it (the team) would be this tight-knit, and I really love them.”

In just the third minute, Scialanga threw the ball in at the feet of Lami, who swiftly moved past a defender, dribbled it to the top of the 18-yard box, and shot a rocket into the left corner for the goal.

He wasn’t finished, however. Just 10 minutes later, Northern’s Xhoel Lutaj and Lami creatively played a 1-2 at the top of the 18-yard box and Lami ripped a shot into the right corner of the net.

As the game continued, battles between players intensified and resulted in 17 fouls called on the teams combined before intermission.

Both teams had opportunities in the second half, including DU’s Andrew Dykstra in the 72nd minute meeting Cedergren 1-on-1, the latter making a sliding save to preserve the shutout.

It was the goalkeeper’s fourth shutout this season as he made a career-high eight saves. While DU outshot Northern 19-14, the Wildcats had a narrow 9-8 edge in shots on goal.

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