Great Lakes Wire

The Northern Michigan University (NMU) women's soccer team delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over Purdue Northwest on Senior Day. The match was marked by NMU's effective use of long balls and sideline runs, allowing them to dominate with a total of 24 shots compared to Purdue's three.

Head coach Jon Sandoval praised his team's performance, noting the importance of starting strong against a formidable opponent. "We knew that Purdue was having a great year, so we knew that if we came out flat, we were in danger of being behind early," he stated. "Kudos to the group for being able to recognize that and get the job done."

Thirteen seniors were honored before the game, all participating in what Sandoval described as a special occasion. He expressed gratitude towards this group, saying, "This class was the first full recruiting cycle for me. They came in when we were still rebuilding... Although they're graduating, the tradition and culture that they've set will still be here."

Seniors Brooke Pietila and Sami Brown made notable contributions to the scoresheet. Pietila recorded two goals and an assist while Brown scored for a consecutive game. Other key players included Molly Pistorius with one goal and two assists, Hannah Kastamo with both a goal and an assist, and Kenna Alexander providing an assist.

Looking ahead, NMU will face Parkside next weekend for their final regular season home match. Sandoval emphasized focusing on one game at a time: "The big thing is looking one game ahead... We enjoy playing at home in front of the home fans."

In the first half, NMU took control early with two quick goals within ten minutes. Hannah Kastamo initiated an attack leading to Pietila's opening goal followed by Pistorius doubling the lead shortly after. Sami Brown capitalized on a defensive error from Purdue to extend NMU’s lead before halftime.

During the second half, Pistorius assisted Pietila for her second goal while Kastamo sealed the win with another score.

With only three games remaining in their regular season schedule, NMU will host Parkside on November 1st at 3 pm.