Weimer scores both goals in the semifinal win
SAGINAW VALLEY, Mich. — The NMU men’s soccer team made history on the Robbert C. Braddock Field, defeating the #2 seeded Roosevelt Lakers 2-1 in overtime to advance to the GLIAC Championships.
With the win, the #3 seeded Wildcats (8-4-6, 6-4-2 GLIAC) not only advance to the GLIAC Championship for the first time in program history, but match the program record for most wins in a season at eight. After finishing last place and missing the playoffs just a season ago, head coach Alex Fatovic said that “it means the world” to be in the conference championship match on Sunday.
“It shows the determination and grit from these guys, and I’m so proud of them. It’s never easy, and especially when it’s the defending champions. For them to dig deep after conceding a penalty with 13 minutes to go and being under a lot of pressure to end the game, to find a little rhythm and score the golden-goal, this speaks volumes of their character.”
(Above: Teun Van Gansewinkel leads the Wildcats in a post-game celebration chant)
The ‘Cats were fortunate enough to have a lot of traveling friends and family who showed up to support the team from all over the country. After the community showed up big for the team on Sunday in the quarterfinals, the NMU soccer community is something that head coach Fatovic says his team is forever grateful for.
“It shows the amount of support our program has, not only in Marquette, but around the state as well. They feel the energy our guys bring, and they’re always here supporting us. I can’t wait to see all of the Green and Gold on Sunday.”
In a dominant first half, the ‘Cats finally broke through in the 24th minute. All-GLIAC Honorable Mention, Ian Weimer, finished off a terrific passing play from All-GLIAC First Teammer, Luca Rosen, and star defender James Carr. The Wildcats were truly on the front foot in the first half, outshooting the Lakers 7-3 with three on target to none. When the teams were in possession, the ‘Cats spent 57% of that in the attacking half compared to the Lakers 48%.
Roosevelt came out on the front foot in the second half, controlling play and eventually tying the match off a Fynn Mewes penalty with 13 minutes remaining, just the second PK allowed all season.
The Wildcats got exceptional second-half performances from goalkeeper Asaf Kristal and Isaac Cervantes, who came off the bench and made a handful of game-saving plays to keep the game tied. Despite only making two saves, both of them were crucial, and he aided the ‘Cats across the line.
“Two massive saves. The free kick was an absolute worldie, save of the year contender, and then coming off his line again a few minutes later. Not much you can do on the penalty, but again, he’s steady, has good leadership, great distribution, and no errors whatsoever.”
Though he doesn’t show up on the score sheet for it, the ‘Cats got a handful of massive defensive plays from Cervantes in the second half to keep the game deadlocked. Head coach Fatovic describes him as a “closer” when referring to the sophomore defender.
“[Isaac] is absolutely unbelievable. I will put him in the game at any time, without a doubt. He’s a warrior, and he knows his role: he starts some, he doesn’t start some, but if we’re winning and trying to preserve a lead, he knows he’s going in. Those were some big-time saves at the end of the game, and then we stuck with him in overtime because he was playing so well, and that speaks volumes of his maturity to not be a starter and come off the bench and make saves for us like that.”
After opening the scoring in the first half, it was Weimer who was the overtime hero, as he found a loose ball at the side of the net and poked a rebound past the keeper, winning the game for the Green and Gold just three minutes into the overtime period. James Carr sent in the pass that led to the goal.
“Like we’ve said before, [Ian] just gets better every game. He was fantastic again today, and he plays the nine [position] the way it should be played; getting in good areas, great finish on the first goal, and he’s pressing all the time… He’s the hero with a golden-goal, finds his way on a brace, and I’m super proud of him.”
(Above: Head Coach Fatovic embracing Weimer during post-game celebrations)
The Wildcats now face hosts, #1 Saginaw Valley State, in the Championship, after the Cardinals downed the #5 Panthers 3-1 earlier in the day. Kickoff from Robbert C. Braddock Field on the campus of Saginaw Valley is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 16.
‘Cat Nips
- GLIAC Honorable Mention, Weimer (six goals, one assist), continued his terrific run of play, adding his sixth goal on the campaign and fifth goal in as many games.
- Carr (five assists) added his first points of the postseason, securing his team-leading fifth assist with a pair of them today.
- All-GLIAC First Teamer, Rosen (nine goals, three assists) added an assist today. The forward now has four goals and two assists in the last five games.
How It Happened
The ‘Cats had the first opportunity, and it came off the foot of Rosen. Rosen stole the ball and went on a counter, driving to the box on the left side. He took a low driven left-footed strike, forcing Carvajal to make a heads-up save. The ‘Cats then earned a free kick to the right of the box, and Scialanga took a shot on target that was handled by Carvajal, and the Lakers escaped unscathed.
Rosen, once again on the counter, gave the ‘Cats another opportunity to strike, as he stole the ball from the defender and drew a yellow card just outside of the box. The GLIAC’s leading scorer stood over his own free kick on the left side of the box, and his curling strike just narrowly missed the crossbar.
The Wildcats took the lead in the 24th minute, as Weimer finished off a string of tic-tac-toe passing started by Rosen and Van Gansewinkel. Rosen started in the back and sped up through the midfield. Rosen played a ball to Van Gansewinkel on the right wing, who played a perfect through-ball to a streaking Weimer. Weimer was all alone with the goalkeeper, and his finish was clinical.
The Lakers earned a free kick in a dangerous area from just outside the box, and the ensuing sequence was a masterclass from the NMU goalkeeper. Kristal first had to make a full-extension save from the curling free kick before stopping a header from in-tight off the ensuing corner kick, and the NMU keeper had to come up big from his first two saves.
Kristal came up big again, as GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Mewes, broke in one-on-one with the keeper, and it was Kristal who answered with a huge save in the 61st minute.
The Lakers were awarded a penalty kick with 13 minutes remaining in the match, and Mewes stepped over the penalty. The forward’s right-footed strike found the bottom left corner, and the game was tied with 13 minutes remaining.
Isaac Cervantes came off the bench and turned in a spectacular shift in the dying minutes, as he first executed a perfectly played slide tackle in a one-on-one with Mewes, and then blocked a shot inside the box, keeping the game scoreless.
The Wildcats had a free header in the box with 30 seconds remaining in regulation, and the attempt from Weimer was sent just over the crossbar.
The Wildcats opened the overtime frame on the front foot, and were awarded just three minutes into the extra frame. A seemingly harmless cross from Carr was mishandled by Carvajal, and Weimer was on the doorstep to find the loose ball and tap it past the keeper, sending the Wildcats to the GLIAC Championship.
