PREVIEW: Regionally-Ranked Foes Journey to Marquette

MARQUETTE, Mich. – After a pair of attracts within the common season opening weekend, the NMU Women’s Soccer workforce is about to host Northwood and Cedarville, because the ‘Cats search for its first win of the 2025 marketing campaign. 

The Wildcats, presently 0-0-2 in 2025 beneath new head coach Erin Egolf, have one other set of residence regional matches scheduled for this weekend, that includes a pair of foes ranked among the many high within the Midwest. The ‘Cats kick off towards the Timberwolves, the fifth-ranked workforce, on Thursday, September eleventh, and the Yellow Jackets, the sixth-ranked workforce, on Saturday, September thirteenth. 

Over the weekend, the ‘Cats performed to a pair of ties, first a 1-1 consequence to St. Cloud State earlier than incomes the primary clear sheet of 2025 in a scoreless draw. Marquette Senior High School product, Isabella Lorens, scored the lone objective towards the Huskies, and Jillian Thompson posted her first shutout of the season and made eight saves over two video games.

Thompson was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in objective. After week one, Thompson leads GLIAC goalkeepers in targets towards common, save share, and shutouts. Thompson isn’t any stranger to success, as she set this system document for season shutouts with 14 in 2023. 

Northwood has performed solely as soon as to date, touring to Saginaw Valley to open the season final weekend, the place they defeated the GLIAC foe 1-0 because of a objective from G-MAC Defender of the Week, Ava Kettler. 

Cedarville may have performed 4 GLIAC opponents for its full non-conference slate, beginning with a matchup towards Michigan Tech on Thursday earlier than ending in Marquette on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets defeated Ferris State 1-0 earlier than dropping a tightly contested match towards top-ranked Grand Valley State, 2-3.  

Follow The Action

Follow @NMU_wsoccer on Instagram and @NMU_wsoccer on X (previously referred to as Twitter) for updates main as much as and throughout the video games.

Thursday, September 11 – vs Northwood at 1 PM

Watch | Live Stats 

Saturday, September 13 – vs Cedarville at 12 PM

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Hear from Head Coach Egolf

“[We prepare] for every game like it’s going to be the hardest team we play all year… Everything is geared toward being the best we possibly can be on game day, no matter who we play. Last year doesn’t matter, the year before that doesn’t matter; what matters is the here and now.”

‘Cat Nips

• Goalkeeper Jillian Thompson was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for her efficiency final weekend, and leads GLIAC netminders in GAA, SV%, and SO.
• Isabella Lorens scored the lone objective for the Wildcats final weekend and leads the workforce in targets.
• Freshman Lily Senese recorded her first profession Wildcat level in her NMU debut, including an help to Lorens’ objective.
• Egolf performed 18 student-athletes within the opening weekend, with 4 taking part in your entire 180 minutes: Thompson, Hannah Kastamo, Irene Killunen, and Addison Wargo, with 5 extra student-athletes having recorded 150+ minutes.
• Alyse Daavettila aided NMU within the 3-0 win towards Cedarville final season, scoring her first profession objective towards the Yellow Jackets on September 12, 2024.
• The Wildcats have by no means opened a season with two consecutive attracts in its 29-year historical past. The workforce had two ties in its first three video games in 2010, a season through which the workforce made its first NCAA Tournament look in program historical past.

A Look at Northwood

Timberwolves had been ranked fifth within the Midwest Region within the first rendition of the United Soccer Coaches ballot. A 1-0 win over Saginaw Valley has been the groups solely contest to date, with defender Ava Kettler scoring the lone objective to earn her a G-MAC Defender of the Week honor. 

Northwood was chosen to complete second of their convention in 2025, as said within the G-MAC preseason coaches ballot. The Timberwolves are returning loads of key gamers, together with 2024 G-MAC First Team honoree Carly Boyd, G-MAC Freshman of the Year Ella Boyd, and goalkeeper Lindsay Jacob, who has set quite a few program data in her two years. 

The Timberwolves have had success the previous few seasons, making it to the G-MAC Championship Game in 2024 and profitable the 2023 G-MAC Tournament to earn an NCAA Tournament look. Since 2023, the Timberwolves have turned in a 29-7-7 general document, together with a 10-4-4 document on the highway.

The ‘Cats are 7-9-1 general towards the Timberwolves, drawing 1-1 in Midland final season. Before that, NMU and NU squared off in 2021, splitting the season sequence with the then GLIAC foe. 

A Look at Cedarville

Another essential matchup towards a fierce regional opponent, the Yellow Jackets enter the weekend after a 1-0 win over Ferris State and a 2-3 loss to then No.5 Grand Valley State after being up 2-1 at halftime. 

The Yellow Jackets completed two spots beneath Northwood within the G-MAC preseason ballot this 12 months. Cedarville returns a pair of 2024 all-conference alternatives, senior defenders Sophie Browndyke and Maddie McConnell. 

A storied program, the Yellow Jackets have made the NCAA Tournament 3 times up to now 4 seasons, with final 12 months snapping a streak of three-straight NCAA appearances after bowing out to Ashland within the G-MAC semifinals. The Yellow Jackets additionally received an NCCAA National Championship in 2019.

The Wildcats have met the Yellow Jackets solely as soon as in program historical past, a 3-0 win for the Green and Gold on September 12, 2024, happening on Northwood’s “Dean Soccer Field”. It was on this recreation that then-freshman Daavettila scored her first profession objective.