Northern Michigan University’s Hannah Kastamo, left, gets off a pass from just outside the 18-yard box and toward the net while defended by Michigan Tech's Anna Syracuse during their GLIAC women’s soccer game played at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Oct. 12. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

GRAND RAPIDS — The women’s soccer team at Northern Michigan University chose a bad time to go into a scoring slump.

The Wildcats lost their third straight — not scoring a goal throughout that time — after a 1-0 setback at Davenport on Sunday afternoon.

NMU fell to 3-6-4 overall and 3-5-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the same league record as Davenport as they’re now tied for fifth place with 10 points.

While Northern held onto fifth place, the same spot it started the weekend — also before a 4-0 loss at Saginaw Valley State on Friday — it’s a much more tenuous position than it was before. For one thing, the Wildcats share the spot now, plus they’re only one point ahead of seventh-place Purdue Northwest, which has a game in hand on NMU and DU, and eighth-place Michigan Tech is only three points behind.

In front of NMU is fourth-place Ferris State, whose 14 points puts the Bulldogs more than a three-point win ahead of Northern, with the top three teams just about out of reach with 21, 19 and 19 points.

Still, though, the Wildcats have five league games left, with games at GLIAC leader Grand Valley State on Friday and fourth-place Ferris on Sunday.

This past Sunday in Grand Rapids, NMU for the second time in three games had a decided advantage on offense and yet couldn’t score. On this day, Northern outshot the Panthers 18-3 in total shots and 8-2 in shots on goal. They also took all eight corner kicks.

Two games earlier on Oct. 12, also a 1-0 loss but at home to Michigan Tech, the Wildcats held a 23-7 bulge in all shots, even as shots on goal was only a 5-4 edge. But NMU also took all 10 of that game’s corner kicks.

On Sunday, Jillian Thompson worked in the Northern goal, making one save, while DU counterpart Elizabeth Wolter kept busy making eight saves.

The Wildcats came out swinging on offense on a rainy day, with near-misses by Madison Bilbia and Addison Frantti as Wolter had four saves each half. Northern’s Alyse Daavettila also had a powerful strike deflected in the first half.

NMU had a dangerous set piece opportunity not long before intermission from 26 yards out, but the challenge was headed away as it curved toward the net.

Still scoreless to start the second half, the Wildcats’ Addison Wargo had a deep shot to prompt another save not long after play resumed. And they also had a free kick from 22 yards away, but Hannah Kastamo’s shot was punched above the bar.

Then with little more than 10 minutes left, Davenport broke through, scoring on their second overall shot and first shot on goal when Madelyn Schamanek lobbed the ball into the box for Claire Breault, who sent it past Thompson.

Northern had what it thought was the equalizer not long after, but the goal was waved off due to an offside call.

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.