Northern Michigan University’s Hannah Kastamo takes a shot on the Wisconsin-Parkside goal in the first half of their GLIAC game played at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Nov. 2. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Journal Sports Editor

MARQUETTE — Two seniors and a junior from the women’s soccer team at Northern Michigan University earned conference postseason honors as announced on Thursday by the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Senior captain Hannah Kastamo was named to the GLIAC First Team as a defender; another senior captain, Kenna Alexander, earned Second Team distinction as a midfielder; and junior Madison Bilbia won GLIAC Honorable Mention.

The Wildcats advanced to the GLIAC Tournament semifinals as the No. 5 seed before falling to No. 1 seed and eventual champion Grand Valley State 4-0 on Friday at the Lakers’ field in Allendale.

NMU finished the season with 6-6-2 conference and 7-8-5 overall records.

Kastamo, from downstate Hartland, was the 2024 GLIAC Defender of the Year and has played numerous roles for the Northern team as she shared the Wildcats’ high this season with six goals and four assists, leading the team with 16 points and three game-winning goals, and placing second in total shots with 47.

This All-American started all 20 NMU games this season and logged the third-most minutes with 1,647.

Playing two less games than in 2024, Kastamo still matched her career high in goals and game-winning goals, with the 16 points one shy of her previous high.

She’s been not only a league Defensive Player of the Year, but also earned a past Fall Commissioner’s Award, twice being named to the GLIAC First Team, along with a conference All-Tournament Team nod and all-conference honorable mention.

Alexander, from Bloomington, Indiana, shared with Kastamo being the Wildcats’ top goal scorer with six and was second with 14 points. She compiled a late-season streak of five goals in five games, two of them game winners.

Like Kastamo, she also started every Northern game this fall, playing a full 90 minutes seven times and at least 70 minutes in all but one game.

Bilbia, from Kalamazoo, earned her first All-GLIAC award as she tied for third for NMU both with three goals and three assists, totaling nine points for fourth highest on the team. The forward and midfielder also had team highs of 55 total shots and 21 shots on goal, joining Kastamo and Alexander by starting every game this season.

Grand Valley, the No. 6 team in the nation entering the conference tourney, carted off four of the five major awards — senior Kacy Lauer was Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Macie Hunter the Goalkeeper of the Year, freshman Ivy Wilhelm the Freshman of the Year and the Lakers’ staff the Coaching Staff of the Year.

Saginaw Valley State senior Madi Bajis was named both Offensive Player of the Year and GLIAC Player of the Year.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the awards. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.