Great Lakes Wire

The Northern Michigan Wildcats women's soccer team advanced to the GLIAC Semifinals after a 2-0 victory over the Ferris State Bulldogs in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Wildcats, seeded fifth, defeated the fourth-seeded Bulldogs and secured their sixth consecutive appearance in the conference semifinals.

Both teams played a scoreless first half despite several chances on goal. Wildcats goalkeeper Jillian Thompson made three saves in the opening period and finished with her third straight clean sheet. Addison Frantti nearly put Northern Michigan ahead but hit the post before Ferris State's goalkeeper Korinne Ihrke stopped another shot from Madison Bilbia.

Early in the second half, Hannah Kastamo scored to give Northern Michigan a 1-0 lead. She converted after Frantti assisted her inside the box, with Kastamo’s shot bouncing off the crossbar into the net. Twenty minutes later, Kenna Alexander extended the lead by scoring from outside the box.

At full time, Ferris State had more total shots (16) than Northern Michigan (13), but Northern Michigan held a slight edge in shots on target (5-4). The Wildcats were called offside three times compared to one for Ferris State. Ferris also had six corner kicks to Northern’s two.

Following this win, Northern Michigan awaits results from other matches to determine their next opponent and location for Friday's semifinal game. The final four teams will play at the highest remaining seed’s venue.

Kastamo scored her third game-winning goal of the season and reached ten career goals as a Wildcat senior captain. This mark ties her for third-most in program history with Kari Buckel (2007-10). Alexander has now scored in five consecutive matches during her senior year. Goalkeeper Thompson earned her fifth shutout of this season and is two away from matching Kara Music’s program record of 21 career shutouts set between 2006 and 2009.

All starting players for Northern Michigan logged at least 73 minutes during frigid conditions, with seven playing all ninety minutes: Thompson, Kastamo, Alexander, Gretchen Ellis, Irene Kiilunen, Ava Buhlman, and Addison Wargo. Alyse Daavettila and Madison Bilbia also played significant minutes.

"