Tie puts NMU women’s soccer on verge of home playoff berth
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MARQUETTE -- The women's soccer team at Northern Michigan University held onto fifth place in the conference with a 1-1 deadlock against Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday afternoon at the NMU Soccer Field.
The Wildcats moved to 8-3-4 overall and 5-3-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, good for 18 points.
NMU was also hosting seventh-place Ferris State on Sunday before the coming week includes the final two matches of the regular season.
Northern travels to Grand Rapids to face third-place Davenport at noon Thursday before making the short jaunt to Allendale to take on second-place Grand Valley State at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Even though Friday's result wasn't a victory, the Wildcats extended their unbeaten streak to eight games with a 5-0-3 record since the last week of September.
Northern is attempting to move up a spot into fourth place to earn a home berth in the first-round quarterfinals of the upcoming GLIAC Tournament that begins on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Parkside remained just behind NMU at 7-5-3 and 5-4-2 in the league for 17 points.
Northern scored first in the 33rd minute, about 12 1/2 minutes before halftime, by taking advantage of a Rangers' turnover.
Wildcats freshman Sole Corley intercepted a pass by Parkside goalkeeper Lindsey Ferrara deep in UWP territory and played it to Northern senior teammate Madison Bilbia streaking down the right wing, according to a game account provided by NMU Sports Information.
Bilbia's decisive kick beat Ferrara on the far side for her sixth goal this season.
But barely two minutes later, 122 seconds to be exact, Parkside tied it when the Rangers' Lindsay Dahlinger booted in a deflection of a save made by Northern netminder Carly Sides.
The Wildcats had some opportunities to retake the lead in the second half, highlighted by clear-cut chances by junior Marena Maceroni and sophomore Addison Frantti, according to NMU SI.
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Northern Michigan University's Madison Bilbia, front left, kicks the ball in for a goal during the first half of a GLIAC women's soccer game played against Wisconsin-Parkside at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Sides finished with three saves, as did Ferrara. Both teams took four shots on goal while the Rangers had the edge in total shots, 13-9, and corner kicks 6-1. Each team was whistled for nine fouls and shown one yellow card.
Story contents based on a Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the game. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.