KENOSHA, Wis. - After picking up two wins in Minnesota this past weekend, the Parkside women's soccer team is off to their hottest start since 2014. The Ranger's defense combined for two clean sheets, and goalkeeper Izzy Guyer received recognition from the GLIAC as the Defensive Player of the Week. Guyer has surmounted 15 saves on the season and has three wins to her name. Guyer's .938 save percentage places her 19th in the nation in Division II. Offensively, Parkside saw goals from Kate Brown, Alexis Bolger, and Alexis Baker over the weekend. Kate Brown's goal was her first of her collegiate career.   

Ahead for the Rangers are two more road matches. The Rangers will enter conference play undefeated for the first time in nine years. GLIAC play begins as Parkside is slated to face off against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech. Friday's kickoff against the Wildcats is set for 3 p.m. ET. Sunday's showdown against the Huskies will be at 12 p.m. ET.  

"We are looking forward to starting GLIAC play and showing the conference what we are all about. This team has a strong mentality and is driven by a shared goal which we've demonstrated in the first three matches. We know every game in the GLIAC is a battle, but I think we are more prepared than ever for the challenge," Coach Brittany Nikolic said looking ahead to conference play. 

 

Friday, Sept. 15 

Parkside @ #23 Northern Michigan 

3 p.m. ET | NMU Soccer Field | Marquette, Mich. 

Live Stats | Watch 

 

Sunday, Sept. 17 

Parkside @ Michigan Tech 

12 p.m. ET | Kearly Stadium | Houghton, Mich. 

Live Stats | Watch 

 

SCOUTING #23 NORTHERN MICHIGAN 

While the Rangers are off to a hot start, the same can be said about the Wildcats. Sitting unbeaten at 4-0, Northern Michigan recently broke into the top-25 rankings. Ranked at #23, Northern Michigan has only one like opponent with Parkside thus far. Both Parkside and Northern Michigan have faced off against Lewis University. Both programs defeated the Flyers, Parkside in a 2-1 scoreline and Northern Michigan in a 3-0 scoreline. 

The Wildcats hot play is thanks to the offensive firepower of Molly Pistorious. Her play this past week alone garnered her GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. With hat-tricks against Minnesota Duluth and Lewis, Pistorious is the only player in D2 with multiple hat-tricks this season. Her six goals on the season leads the program. With 13 points on the season, she also tops all her teammates in that category as well.  

On the defensive side, Jillian Thompson has started every match and logged all 360 minutes for the Wildcats. Thompson has gathered up three clean sheets on the year so far, while allowing only three goals. Those three goals, however, were all conceded in the same game against Minnesota Duluth. The Rangers will look to challenge her by putting shots on frame as she only has seven saves on the season while facing 29 shots for a .750 save percentage.  

The Rangers enter the matchup having lost the last three matches to the Wildcats. However, the matchup has been evenly matched over the years as the series record sits a 5-5-2.  

SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH 

The Huskies enter the week sitting at 1-1-2 on the year. Their lone win came in their most recent match against Lewis on Sept. 10 as they topped the Flyers in a lopsided 5-1 victory. Lewis is the only common opponent between the two programs, as both picked up wins. 

On the offensive side of things, the Huskies have five different goal scorers on the season, lead by Junior Seulgi Lee with three goals in 2023 thus far. Outside of the Lewis match, the Huskies have scored just two goals on the year and have been shutout once. 

Huskies Goalkeeper Gracie VanLangevelde has played all but 45 minutes this season. Her record entering the week sits at 1-1. She has accumulated 11 saves on the year while allowing three goals leading to a .86 goals against average. She and the Husky defense have yet to have record a clean sheet this season.  

Historically, the series favors Michigan Tech as they have won six matches to Parkside's four. There has yet to be a tie between the two programs, so look for a goal to be the difference maker in this one.