Great Lakes Wire

The NMU men's soccer team has been selected to finish tied for sixth in the GLIAC ahead of the 2024 campaign, as voted on by the coaches.

With 17 new faces, 12 total returners, and five returning upperclassmen, the Wildcats will look completely different from the team that went 2-10-4 last year.

"Preseason rankings are always based on last season's results, and for us, this is a completely new team," said head coach Alex Fatovic, who now enters his third season as head coach for the Wildcats. "We've got a really diverse incoming class of players, from true freshmen and transfers, and athletes from Michigan to Albania and everywhere in between. I think we're going to be better; we will have more depth at some positions we were weaker at last year, and I think this group is hungry to succeed."

Despite a large incoming class of fresh faces, the Wildcats still boast quality in returning players. All-GLIAC Second Team selection Jan Hoffmann returns after leading the team in assists, points, and shots in 2023. Reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year Jaziel Sainz de Vilmorin also returns after finishing fourth in points on the Wildcat roster. Additionally, captain Tommaso Lami is back and healthy after suffering a season-ending injury four games into the 2023 campaign.

"We are getting together and becoming a family," said Lami, who was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year just two seasons ago. "There's a lot of new faces, and the feeling is completely different. We can't waste what we have right now; these new players are giving us more energy and enthusiasm, and that's something we didn't have last year."

Joining Fatovic ahead of the 2024 campaign are three new additions to the coaching staff: Chance Vang, Bryce Beckley, and Keegan Schmidt.

Vang takes on assistant coach duties after spending the 2023 season at UCCS where he helped lead them to an overall record of 10-6-5 with an appearance in the NCAA National Tournament. Prior to UCCS, Vang served as Head Coach at Northeastern Junior College where he led them to a record of 24-7-3 over two years (2021-2023).

Two former NMU student-athletes round out this year's coaching additions. Beckley will serve as goalkeeper coach after taking over midway through last season where he started six matches recording two shutouts among other achievements. Schmidt holds program records for career games played; he was instrumental on defense earning GLIAC Honorable Mention recognition this past season.

Though regular-season play starts early September—Wildcats begin preparations with three preseason road games starting against Madonna followed by another double-header next Tuesday—Fatovic sees these matches critical towards setting up their competitive form: "That's what first week preseason about—is can get ready play first match? We had practice Monday—we'll bus heading Petoskey Friday... work do but couldn't excited group working."