Wildcats host Schoolcraft in a preseason match Sunday
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The 2026/2027 school year is rapidly approaching; fall sports are checking in, students are getting back on campus, and the NMU men’s soccer team opened the athletic calendar with a preseason exhibition match against Division I UW-Green Bay.
Head coach Alex Fatovic and the Wildcats welcomed the Phoenix to Marquette just four days into the pre-season schedule, drawing 1-1 to Green Bay on a picturesque afternoon in the Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Superior at the NMU Soccer Field.
While it was the first on-field meeting between a Wildcat side and an opponent of any sport this year, the energy on and around the pitch said otherwise. There was intensity, passion, and a crowd on hand that was reminiscent of the infamous ‘snow game’ GLIAC postseason quarterfinal win from a year ago.
That raucous crowd, featuring various athletic teams and local community members, helped the men’s soccer team kick off the competition calendar.
Marquette is ready for Wildcat athletics to begin again, and that showed today.
“The support today was great,” added Fatovic, who enters his fifth season as head coach of Wildcat men’s soccer. “It shows that the program is growing in popularity around town, but there’s something to watch now, and I think having the other sports back and having a real game like that is what college athletics is all about. It was great to have that atmosphere, and I think it’s fantastic most of all for our new players to witness what it’s like to play here. Huge props to all the student-athletes and community members who came out to support today.”
Senior Davian Gumbs, who head coach Fatovic dubbed ‘Man of the Match’ when I spoke with him post-game, had a lot of praise for the community who showed out to support the Green and Gold.
“It’s really nice to see people come out and support us. They get to see the lake behind us and what a beautiful place and environment it is to play in. Being around everybody and hearing them push us forward really helps us get the results we’re after.”
The ‘Cats got back to campus on Sunday, where the team toured the locker room and got new gear ahead of the season before preseason officially began. Gumbs adds that preseason has been off to a great start for his team.
“It’s a great environment here; it’s the first week back, everyone is really excited, and coach has been describing [the beginning of the season] as Christmas in August. So getting all our new gear, seeing the locker room, everything like that motivates us to play for what we have. It’s really special.”
The Wildcats began on-field training Monday, August 10, just three days before today’s competition, and looked on-form against a Division I side that has been on the field since early August and already had an exhibition contest against Notre Dame under its belt.
After just a handful of days into the preseason campaign, head coach Fatovic had lots of praise for his team and their commitment right out of the gate, from both returning veterans and fresh faces to the program.
“The guys have been locked in right from the beginning and our leadership is doing what they need to do, so it really hasn’t been difficult to get them motivated to where they need to be. We’re building day by day; the standards are high here, and the new players have really fit in.
“Our newcomers have been what’s making us tick. The returners have set the tempo, and there are a lot of them that are really talented, but it’s the new group of players that are going to make the most impact… Everyone that came in today did really well, so a very positive start for us.”
NMU fell down early from a free-kick in the first half, but gained momentum in the second half thanks to a surge from 100 members of the NMU football team cheering behind the Green Bay goal. After hitting the crossbar in the first half, Xhoel Lutaj found his mark and scored the equalizer in the second, and the ‘Cats carried all the momentum into the end of the preseason friendly.
Both senior captains, forward Luca Rosen and goalkeeper Asaf Kristal, did not see playing time, while seven of the starting 11 featured freshmen, a first-year transfer, or a member of the team who saw limited playing time last season. Fatovic rotated his young talent into the lineup throughout the match, and it didn’t feel like they missed a beat while keeping up with the veterans who won the tournament a year ago.
“We had a little bit of a dip after the first 10 minutes where they needed to catch their second wind, but after that, it looked like they were in proper shape. We’ve had a couple of really good days of preseason… and we were able to draw against a Green Bay team that’s really solid. I was pleased with everyone’s performances: newcomers, returners, and Davian Gumbs stuck out to me today.”
Gumbs, who will enter his senior season, had nothing but praise for the fresh faces and the qualities that they have brought to the team, both on and off the field to start the campaign.
“They’ve come in with a lot of energy, great quality, and are already showing us their talent and what they can do while playing in our system. We’re forming our team bond, and that’s what we need to do to show up week after week.”
The ‘Cats now look ahead to Sunday, August 16, for its second match of the preseason, at home against Schoolcraft, who were tabbed as the #15 ranked NJCAA team this preseason.
“They’re a great team, always in the national tournament for [NJCAA]. They’ll be fully loaded with it being a fall game, and they will be up here training in the grass for a couple of days, so it’s going to be a real game. We’ll probably see their first team for both halves, so hopefully everyone can come out on Sunday as well.”
The preseason match begins at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 16, followed by an intra-squad scrimmage from the women’s soccer program. The teams welcome all fans for a Community / SSA / MQT United afternoon to celebrate soccer in the local area.
