UP Gazette

In Marquette, Michigan, the Northern Michigan University men's soccer team advanced to the GLIAC Semifinals after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Purdue Northwest. The match ended 2-2 after regulation and overtime, with NMU prevailing 6-5 in an eighth-round penalty kick session.

Head coach Alex Fatovic said after the game, "This was the moment we have been practicing for for a year. In our practice sessions in the [Superior Dome] during the wintertime, we're not calling fouls at practice, being physically harder on ourselves, going through all the pitfalls of last season, [and when we got to penalty kicks], we just reminded them that they've been here before and that you're prepared for this moment… Overtime cramping, injuries, it didn't matter. Our guys rose to the challenge."

The day began early as goalkeeper coach Bryce Beckley and his father started clearing three inches of wet snow from the field at 7 a.m. By late morning, about 100 community members joined NMU coaches, staff, and athletes to help prepare the pitch for play. Coach Fatovic noted, "This was a full community win today. We had people out here for five-plus hours clearing the field this morning so our guys could play and have this opportunity. I'm so grateful for everyone who showed up today and helped make this an amazing day for NMU Athletics as well as our program."

Despite cold temperatures near 30 degrees and windy conditions, hundreds of fans attended. Students made use of a new student section and created a lively atmosphere with vuvuzelas and drums.

The first half saw four goals in 25 minutes. Teun Van Gansewinkel scored in the eighth minute from an Alessandro Scialanga assist. Four minutes later, Quint Van Roij doubled NMU's lead with another assist from Scialanga off a corner kick. Purdue Northwest responded quickly with goals by Landon Potts in the 18th minute and Carson Byblow in the 24th minute.

Coach Fatovic commented on his team's response: "We dropped the ball. We let two goals in, but we responded really well. We had chances right away and had opportunities to go back in goal, so I was really pleased with the resilience."

No further goals were scored during regulation or overtime periods. Fatovic explained their approach: "We got the wind in the first overtime session, and we said 'hey, lets go win the game', and when we didn't get it, that turned into 'look, we want to win, but we also don't want to lose it, so lets get ourselves a chance at the shootout'... We were getting moments and getting chances, our guys never stopped trying to get that winning goal, but we also didn't give anything away. We were super clean in the second half of overtime, and that gave us a chance in the shootout."

In penalties—only NMU's second such scenario since its program began in 2016—the teams matched each other through seven rounds before Ian Weimer converted his attempt in round eight and Byblow missed for Purdue Northwest.

Fatovic praised both teams: "Full credit to Purdue; they battled and pushed us all the way, but our guys showed amazing resilience, fight, and spirit, and to go into the eighth round of a shootout, that takes incredible poise. Just an amazing game from our guys, and I believe they can do anything now."

With this victory secured at home under challenging weather conditions—and thanks to significant community support—NMU will next face #2 Roosevelt at Saginaw Valley State’s Robbert C. Braddock Field on November 14.

Looking ahead to semifinals action against Roosevelt at a neutral site following regular-season splits with both Saginaw Valley State (the host) and Grand Valley State (the Lakers), Fatovic expressed confidence: "Who's going to bet against us in the final four? Not us. We're going to be up for it, [Roosevelt] is going to be up for it, it's a neutral site game, and we're excited."