Best in the nation: NMU soccer’s Rosen earns coaches honor for September
NMU soccer’s Rosen earns coaches honor for September
Northern Michigan University's Luca Rosen celebrates one of his goals in a college men's soccer game played against Jamestown on Sept. 12 at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)
Northern Michigan University’s Luca Rosen keeps the ball from going out of bounds during a GLIAC game played against Wisconsin-Parkside at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Oct. 4. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Northern Michigan University's Luca Rosen celebrates one of his goals in a college men's soccer game played against Jamestown on Sept. 12 at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)
Northern Michigan University’s Luca Rosen keeps the ball from going out of bounds during a GLIAC game played against Wisconsin-Parkside at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Oct. 4. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
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MARQUETTE -- The men's soccer team at Northern Michigan University knows how valuable senior captain Luca Rosen is.
Now the country is discovering it, too.
The London, England, native was named the NCAA Division II Forward of the Month by the United Soccer Coaches group this week after a dazzling September, when he scored nine goals and added three assists for 21 points.
A record-breaking game against Jamestown set him up for these kind of numbers and accolades. On Sept. 12 at the NMU Soccer Field, Rosen became the first Northern men's soccer player to score four goals in a game, a 7-1 victory. His eight points were also a program record, while his two goals in the first 2:29 and three goals in the first 9:58 also set records for the Wildcats.
Rosen also established NMU's career mark for goals in just his second year here when he reached 17 on that fateful day.
He later broke Northern's career points record, tying it the next game and breaking it soon after.
"It seems like another week, another award for Luca," said Wildcats head coach Alex Fatovic in an NMU Sports Information news release about the award, a first for a Northern player. "He's certainly a player worthy of this national award, and his September was one for the record books here at NMU.
"However, Luca is such a tough competitor and desires much more than personal accolades, but team success in October. You see it in his efforts and leadership, and we expect even bigger things down the stretch."
Several weeks ago, Rosen led all scorers in Division II, while now he is two out of the national lead with 12 goals. And his 28 points are third in the country, 60 shot attempts second by only one, and 33 shots on goals tied for the best nationwide.
While the Wildcats fell out of first place last weekend after getting shut out twice on the road, they're only one point behind coleaders Roosevelt and Saginaw Valley State, with games left against each at home before the regular season ends.
In fact, Northern has nothing but home games left, four of them in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. They start with a 3 p.m. Friday game at the NMU Soccer Field against last-place St. Cloud State. Following is a 3 p.m. Sunday game vs. Roosevelt.
A week later, the Wildcats host the other last-place team, Davenport, at noon on Friday, Oct. 23, then entertain SVSU to end the regular season at noon on Sunday, Oct. 25.
The GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals are set for campus sites on Saturday, Oct. 31, with the semifinals and finals set for Nov. 6 and 8.
Story contents based on a Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the award. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.