The NMU soccer team will hold open tryouts for the 2014-15 Wildcat team in March.Junior or senior high school athletes may attend, in addition to students from junior colleges and other four year universities with a release from their institution.

Junior Wildcat defender Cheyenne Cecchini began her career with the ’Cats following a tryout. Cecchini appeared in all 17 of the ’Cats games in the 2013-14 season and started 10 of them. Cecchini said her advice for incoming athletes is to come in with some confidence.

“Show that you can play,” Cecchini said. “That’s what we are looking for.”Last season, Cecchini was named to the GLIAC All-American team. Cecchini said she still remembers thinking about tryouts the entire drive from Minnesota.

“I was just thinking, ‘what am I going to do, am I going to make mistakes?’” Cecchini said. “Everyone makes mistakes, but just be prepared.”In order to tryout, before Monday, March 10, athletes must submit a high school transcript, ACT or SAT scores and have completed a medical packet. They must have a physical dated within the last six months. For any college-aged athletes trying out, it is required to have a college release and a college transcript.

All athletes who wish to try out must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and are required to send all of their information to head coach Matthew Granstrand by fax at (906) 227-2492 or by email at [email protected].

Cecchini said the team needs to replace several seniors and will need help at every position. Freshman goalie Alex Simmons tried out for the team last season, as a high school senior.

Simmons said she was nervous, but it paid off.“I tried out while I was still in high school, preparing for my season,” Simmons said. “When I made the team I was excited. I wanted to come to Northern.”

Once athletes have all of the required documents to Granstrand, they are expected to arrive between 3 and 3:45 p.m. Monday, March 17 at the Northern Michigan University Superior Dome in order to register.The tryout will be held the same day, at 4 p.m., and will run until 6 p.m.

All paperwork must be in to the university by Monday, March 10 via fax or email in order to participate in the tryout.