By Journal Sports Staff

MARQUETTE — Senior Luca Lippert recorded his first collegiate three-goal hat trick to lead the Northern Michigan University men’s soccer team to a 3-2 overtime victory over Purdue Northwest at the NMU Soccer Field on Friday afternoon.

Snapping a three-game losing streak, the Wildcats improved to 2-3 overall after their first GLIAC contest of the season as the Pride slipped to 0-5 and 0-1.

Despite netting the game’s first goal, NMU was forced to score the game-tying goal near the midpoint of the second half to force OT.

Good passing set up the game’s opening goal barely more than four minutes in, according to a report from NMU Sports Information. Northern senior Callum Olpin sent a cross to freshman Ryan Palmbaum, who passed to junior Arni Eiriksson. The latter followed up with a pass to Lippert in the middle of the box as he knocked the ball home.

PNW’s Justin Barragan answered with goals about a minute and a half apart around 15 minutes into the second half to give the Pride a 2-1 lead.

But 4:40 after PNW took the lead, Lippert scored his second goal in the 68th minute to tie the game. After NMU senior Lewis Murray’s pass ahead was deflected by PNW, Lippert corralled the ball, took one dribble upfield and fired a shot past Pride goalkeeper Raul Garrido-Garcia into the bottom right corner of the net.

Lippert completed his hat trick with 3:10 left in the first OT. Olpin sent a corner kick across the field that Lippert kicked home.

Northern outshot PNW 17-6, including 7-1 in the first half. Olpin had four shots and Lippert and Murray each had three.

In net, NMU freshman Jonas Vorbau made one save for the victory.

The Wildcats remain at home for a nonconference game against Upper Iowa at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.