Northern Michigan University’s Megan Kirby, left, gets to the ball before Michigan Tech’s Julia Pietila during their GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal match played at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Nov. 12. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

ASHLAND, Ohio — The Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team didn’t really need to travel nearly 600 miles to find a combination rainy and snowy day in northern Ohio.

They could’ve just stayed home in Marquette for that.

But the Wildcats have much bigger issues than early-winter weather to think about this afternoon when they take on Drury in the first round of the NCAA Division II national tournament.

They’ll be outside for the 3 p.m. game that marks their third consecutive appearance in the nationals and fourth time in program history. Each of these past three entries have been under head coach Jon Sandoval.

NMU has plenty of momentum after capturing both the GLIAC regular-season and tournament championships for the second straight year.

Boasting a 14-3-4 record, Northern is fresh off a dominant 3-0 win over Saginaw Valley State in the conference tourney championship game on Sunday.

Key offensive contributors include GLIAC First Team forwards Justina L’Esperance, Brooke Pietila and Molly Pistorius, who were the top three scorers in the league, while Pietila and Pistorius have been the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year this season and last season, respectively.

The Wildcats combine a potent offense with a rock-solid defense, including GLIAC Defender of the Year Hannah Kastamo, who is fourth in the conference in total points, fellow conference First Team selection Maria Storm, and the GLIAC Freshman of the Year, goalkeeper Sally Patton, who anchors the team with her six shutouts this fall.

Today’s contest is actually a neutral-site match in Ashland, as the hometown Eagles are on deck for today’s winner as the Midwest Region’s No. 1 seed. Drury, from the southwestern Missouri city of Springfield, actually had a longer drive reaching Ashland, just over 700 miles. And the Panthers may not be used to November snow, certainly not like the Wildcats are.

Fans can look under the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and search under the women’s soccer schedule for links to live video — for free on the Great Midwest Digital Network — live statistics, the NCAA tournament bracket, and a game history and series preview.

Today’s weather is not only featuring rain and snow, but temperatures that should actually be balmy in the lower 40s for winter weather, but also 15-20 mph winds with gusts up to 40 mph.

NMU is the No. 4 seed and Drury is No. 5 at 14-2-4, while No. 1 Ashland, which drew one of the national tourney’s few first-round byes, is 17-1-2. Drury lost to McKendree in the Great Lakes Valley Conference tourney semifinals, while Ashland won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

Drury was runner-up in the regular season of the GLVC and had a 10-game unbeaten streak (8-0-2) into its league tourney. Drury then defeated Indianapolis 1-0 in its quarterfinal and lost 2-1 to McKendree in the semis.

Drury had seven athletes named to three all-GLVC teams, including first-team selections Andrea Camargo, Kourtney Tucker and Holland Hawkins. Hawkins ranks third in the GLVC in goals with 11, Camargo was the league’s defender of the year in 2023 and has been a staple on the back line for the Panthers for five seasons, and Tucker has six goals and four assists.

Goalie Katy Fitzler was a second-team all-conference selection and leads the nation in shutouts with 13.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.