HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech soccer team fell 2-0 to U.P. rival Northern Michigan at Kearly Stadium on Friday. 

"I thought we came out and had the energy and effort a rivalry game would have. We just didn't have that final piece to the puzzle," Tech soccer coach Melissa Kuhar said. "We relied on a lot of people to play some heavy minutes with a lack of subs and our injuries right now. Northern is a good team, credit to them, they do what they do and they do it really well. The two goals we gave up were our mistakes that bit us in the butt." 

Michigan Tech (4-6, 2-5 GLIAC) was held to just four shots on goal as Northern Michigan's (7-2-2, 5-1-1 GLIAC) high-octane offense produced 13 shots and nine on goal, seeing its win-streak elevate to six games. 

Northern Michigan had a good look with less than three minutes played when NMU's leading goal-scorer Justina L'Esperance had a shot hit the crossbar.

The two teams were scoreless through the first 41 minutes of action before an untimely yellow card was called on Michigan Tech, setting Northern Michigan up for a free kick just across midfield and into the Huskies' defensive end. Brooke Pietila took a long shot that bounced once deep inside the six before finding the back of the net sending the Huskies into halftime trailing by one.

Michigan Tech posted three shots on goal in the second half, although none were of real threat.

Northern Michigan's well-balanced attack on the offensive end produced seven shots to go with three corners. A Huskies turnover on defense set up the second Wildcat goal of the day 15 minutes into the second period. The pressure-causing turnover translated into a 2-on-1 for the Wildcats with Molly Pistorius chipping the ball to L'Esperance who chipped the ball over MTU's goalkeeper well outside of the net to decide the game at 2-0.

Julia Pietila, Ryley Winrich, Molly Bolang and Clara Murchison registered a shot on goal, while Bri Barrows made seven saves in the net for the Huskies.

Justina L'Esperance paced NMU with five shots with three on goal as first-year goalkeeper Sally Patton made four stops en route to her fifth shutout of the season.

Up Next

The Huskies will have the second round of GLIAC contests starting on the road next week, traveling to Davenport on Friday slated for a 2 p.m. start and Ferris State on Sunday at 1 p.m.