Wildcats sweep regular-season series, have seven-match unbeaten streak
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The NMU women’s soccer team defeated rival Michigan Tech 4-0 on Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats (8-3-3, 5-3-2 GLIAC, 17 pts) continued its impressive play of late, earning its fourth consecutive shutout and third 4-0 win in that same stretch. With the win, NMU extends its unbeaten streak to seven games, has outscored its opponents 20-2 in that stretch, and lifts the Green and Gold to 17 points on the GLIAC table.
Today was a crucial three points for the Wildcats as the top of the GLIAC standings are jam-packed. At the time of writing, the ‘Cats are T4 with Davenport (17), are just four points behind first-place Grand Valley (21), and two points off of Saginaw Valley (19) for second place.
The ‘Cats opened the scoring right away, as Sole Corley converted a header off a free kick from Irene Kiilunen just a minute and 53 seconds into the match. Izzy Armstrong doubled the Green and Gold lead 10 minutes later, and Madison Bilbia made it three at the half-hour mark on an assist from Gretchen Ellis.
Ellis scored a wonder goal in the second half, and the Wildcats cruised to a decisive 4-0 win over Michigan Tech. Goalkeeper Carly Sides made one save on the evening.
Corley scored her fifth goal of the season, matching Addison Frantti for the team lead. Armstrong’s determined run led to her second goal of the season; Bilbia’s tally also drew her level for the team lead in goals and extended her lead in points, and Ellis secured her second tally of the campaign.
The Wildcats outshot the Huskies 33-6, with 17 on target to one, with 18 of those attempts coming from inside the Husky penalty area. The Wildcats 17 shots on target are a season high for the Green and Gold, and the Wildcat defense was stellar, only allowing two Husky shots from inside the box.
NMU now looks ahead to its final home regular-season weekend, hosting Parkside and Ferris State next weekend for senior weekend.
