MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Michigan Tech soccer team endured 23 shots and 10 corner kicks from UP rival Northern Michigan, but escaped the NMU Soccer Field with a 1-0 decision off a corner kick by Olivia Gette in the 40th minute on a windy Sunday afternoon.
The win marks the first for the Huskies in Marquette since Sept. 30, 2018, and the first under second-year head coach Melissa Kuhar.
Michigan Tech wraps the first half of GLIAC play with an overall record of 2-8-1 and 2-4-1 in the GLIAC as Northern Michigan drops to 3-4-4 overall and 3-3-1 in the loop.
"I'm extremely happy for our team to get the rivalry win against a solid NMU team! The girls bought into the tactical plan we had for them and we were able to find ways to create," Tech head coach Melissa Kuhar said. "We moved the ball through the middle of the field really well, which helped the flow of the game trend our way. So thrilled with a shutout and a solid defensive team effort. We needed it big time as we head into the 2nd half of the conference season. Huge shoutout to my staff for helping get the girls prepared for the game. Couldn't have accomplished this win without their time and energy to get the girls ready!"
The Huskies withstood an array of offensive chances in the middle portion of the first half, as the Wildcats did everything but score in the opening 45 minutes, pouring on nine shots with three on goal to go with a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Bri Barrows and the defensive play by Gette and Amelia Gregory kept the game scoreless until Gette put the Black & Gold on the scoreboard with a long-range free kick in the 40th minute, putting the Huskies ahead 1-0 entering halftime.
Barrows accounted for three saves in the opening period as the backline made multiple blocked shots, with other shots going wide of the net.
The Wildcats continued to struggle from deep inside the Huskies' territory with two shots wide of the net and a shot off the crossbar 10 minutes out of the halftime break.
The Huskies' first offensive rush early in the second resulted in an offside with Dollison threatening the Wildcat defense.
Barrows faced 14 shots in the second half, needing two saves as the Huskies succumbed to six second-half corners. Meanwhile, the offense only mustered two shots in the second half, with Lovercheck forcing the Wildcats' goalkeeper to make a stop in the 84th minute.
Barrows sees her first shutout of the season, as Gette earns her first career goal as a Husky.
Hannah Kastoma led the Wildcats with six shots and one on goal as goalkeeper Carly Sides made three saves, allowing one goal.
Up Next
The Huskies shift to the second half of league play next week, starting a four-game road stand at Davenport on Friday and Saginaw Valley State on Sunday.
