Great Lakes Wire

The NMU women's soccer team has announced updates to its coaching staff for the 2024 season. Haley Viitala and Vince Rodkey will continue as volunteer assistant coach and soccer data analyst, respectively, while Bryce Beckley is being added as a Graduate Assistant Goalkeeper coach. They will support head coach Jon Sandoval and assistant coach Natalie Stampfly.

Viitala, a Marquette native and former Wildcat, played for NMU from 2011-15, participating in 54 career games and serving as captain in her senior year. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Management of Health and Fitness in 2015. Viitala previously served as a volunteer assistant soccer coach at NMU from 2015-2018 and returned to the Wildcats as an assistant in 2021.

Rodkey is entering his second season as the team's data analyst. He is currently a junior undergraduate student at Northern Michigan University, enrolled in the nursing program.

Beckley joins both the women's and men's soccer coaching staff as a goalkeeper coach for the upcoming season. In 2023, Beckley was a goalkeeper for the Wildcats, starting in six matches where he recorded 30 saves, two shutouts, and maintained a 1.50 GAA. Prior to NMU, Beckley played two seasons at Wisconsin Lutheran College as a primary goalkeeper.

The Wildcats are preparing for their opening match of the 2024 season with an exhibition game at home against Lewis on August 24 at 1 PM.