The Northern Michigan Women’s Soccer team played a pair of home games this past weekend. NMU took on the Northwood University (NU) Timberwolves Friday, Sept. 21, and the Ferris State University (FSU) Bulldogs Sunday, Sept. 23. The Wildcats beat Northwood 1-0 before falling to Ferris 2-1.

Friday’s game was played in poor conditions. The teams had to battle through a combination of wind, rain and cold temperatures. In the first half both teams had chances to score. The Wildcats attempted seven shots forcing the Northwood goalkeeper to stop two of them. NU sent nine shots towards the NMU net, seven of which were on target. Sophomore goalkeeper Brianna Frontuto kept the Timberwolves off the board, stopping all seven shots on net.

Coming out of the break, the wind and rain worsened, making it difficult for both teams to create offensive rhythm, resulting in just one shot on goal in the second half. The Wildcats took the lead in the 78th minute when freshman midfielder Caroline Halonen sent a cross into a group of players in front of the Timberwolves goal. Freshman forward Taelor Moore found the ball in the scrum and through the maze of players, Moore scored her third goal of the season that gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

Halonen logged her team leading fifth assist on the goal. The Cats’ held on to the one goal advantage for the remaining 12 minutes and recorded the victory.

Northern is unbeaten in their past four matches, holding a 3-0-1 record over the span. NMU’s 4-2-2 record start to the season is the best since the 2011 campaign when the Wildcats began the year
5-1-2.

Ferris State hit the pitch Sunday ranked No. 17 in the nation with an 8-1-0 record, averaging 19 shots per match. The high powered Bulldogs would prove to be a tough task for the Wildcats.

FSU took an early lead, scoring in the 22nd minute on a rebound goal by forward Mackenzie Dawes. Northern was able to limit the Bulldogs’ strikers to one goal despite being outshot 8-1 in the first 20 minutes of the opening half.
Bulldog defenders. Halonen managed to shed the defenders and tap it past a charging Bulldog goalkeeper, making it a 2-1 game with her seventh goal of the season. For White, it was her second assist of the year. The Cats’ managed two shots on goal in the final 19 minutes but were unable to tie the game. NMU walked away with a 2-1 loss, bringing their record to 4-3-2 and a 1-1 GLIAC mark.

Halonen leads the GLIAC in nearly every offensive category. She leads the league outright in goals with seven while also leading in points and shots with 19 and 36. Her five assists are tied for the most in the conference.

NMU will host Michigan Technological University (4-3-1) at noon on Sunday, Sept. 30.

In the second half, Ferris’ Carley Dubbert made it a 2-0 FSU lead with a goal in the 66th minute. In the 71st minute, NMU freshman midfielder Credence White sent a cross to the top of the box where Halonen was waiting, draped by two Bulldog defenders. Halonen managed to shed the defenders and tap it past a charging Bulldog goalkeeper, making it a 2-1 game with her seventh goal of the season. For White, it was her second assist of the year. The Cats’ managed two shots on goal in the final 19 minutes but were unable to tie the game. NMU walked away with a 2-1 loss, bringing their record to 4-3-2 and a 1-1 GLIAC mark.

Halonen leads the GLIAC in nearly every offensive category. She leads the league outright in goals with seven while also leading in points and shots with 19 and 36. Her five assists are tied for the most in the conference.

NMU will host Michigan Technological University (4-3-1) at noon on Sunday, Sept. 30.