NMU men’s soccer hosts final nonleague game Saturday
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MARQUETTE -- The men's soccer team at Northern Michigan University completes its nonconference schedule at home on Saturday afternoon before jumping into its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference slate one week from today.
The Wildcats host the University of Jamestown from the city of the same name in North Dakota at 1 p.m. Saturday at the NMU Soccer Field.
The teams have never before in the decade-long history of Northern's program, but this might be an even matchup with each team at .500.
The Wildcats are a straightforward 2-2, having lost a pair of games to nationally ranked Tiffin and Saginaw Valley State while taking out Northwood and Lake Erie.
Jamestown is 1-1-3 and in its second season as an NCAA Division II program, with plans to join the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2027.
Among its games already played is a 2-0 victory over St. Cloud State, which in men's soccer is a member of the GLIAC.
Fans can follow the action online at flocollege.com, visit official NMU men's soccer social media channels or take a gander at the Northern athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the men's soccer schedule for links to live video, live statistics and a preview.
After Saturday, the Wildcats won't be home for three weeks, opening the conference campaign with four straight road games, starting with SVSU at 2 p.m. next Friday.
The Wildcats will be a bit shorthanded in Saturday's game after junior midfielder Tyler Kowalczyk and head coach Alex Fatovic each picked up two yellow cards in Sunday's loss at Saginaw Valley, which automatically turns them into a red card that disqualified them from the rest of that game and also the next game, this upcoming home game.
However, NMU is 6-1-3 at home dating back to the start of last season, including a 3-2 win over Lake Erie on Sept. 3.
The Jimmies, meanwhile, are wrapping up a four-game road trip where they're 1-1-1 so far.
"Our guys have played well at home and haven't lost a game in Marquette in quite awhile," Fatovic said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. "If we can get the crowd out on a Saturday, and it looks like we'll have nice weather, it's going to be a really nice place for our guys to come out and play well."
Northern's two senior captains -- goalkeeper Asaf Kristal and forward Luca Rosen -- have been instrumental in its success so far.
After he set several program records last season, Kristal is doing it again in this late-summer part of the schedule. He recently became the Wildcats' all-time leader in saves, while he's also one shutout from tying that record.
Rosen, meanwhile, makes sure Kristal isn't doing his shot blocking in vain, having already scored four goals in four games, two of them game winners, and adding an assist for nine points.
He has 13 career goals at NMU, second-most in program history, in just barely more than a year in a green-and-gold kit after he transferred here in the summer of 2025.
Rosen is four goals away from breaking that Northern record -- that is Sam Popp with 16 goals from 2016-18 -- and with 31 points is 10 away from Popp's mark there.
Fatovic is pleased, though, to have other offensive forces.
"We came out in a shape (against Lake Erie) that I thought was going to help (Luca) find pockets of space," the coach said. "But like I've said all year, there are so many other quality players up front -- Sergio Cano Castro, Sam Pilgrim, Noah Preston-Watkins, Joel (Xhoel) Lutaj, Julius Lemm.
"All those guys in the front six are really special, so they're going to be able to keep the ball, and (Luca's) going to be able to be wide open because four or five other guys are more than competent to keep it.
"I think that's what is allowing us a little more freedom than maybe last year, where we're less technical in some of those areas, so it's just fantastic to see."
Fatovic also relies on a solid defense to begin possessions.
The emergence of senior Davian Gumbs at left-back has been one of the highlights early this season. He has started each game and is third in minutes by field players with 323.
"I think Davian is one that's really stood out to me, filling in for Alessandro Scialanga at left back," Fatovic said about replacing the graduated Scialanga. "Following in those footsteps is a big deal, and he's been fantastic.... For him to be so steady at left back with Luca at left wing gives (Luca) the freedom to go find the ball a little bit more."
For Jamestown, Nuutti Norhomaa leads the offense with three goals and an assist, including both tallies in a 2-0 win over St. Cloud on Wednesday.
Valon Ismaili has played every minute in goal, holding a 1.60 goals-against average and .840 saves percentage with two shutouts.
In comparison, Kristal is at 2.04 goals-against and .724 saves percentage, having played 353 of 360 minutes.
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Northern Michigan University goalkeeper Asaf Kristal, right, makes a save during a college men's soccer game played against Lake Erie College at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Sept. 3. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)