The Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team booked its reservation at the NCAA Division II nationals for the second straight year after blanking Saginaw Valley State 3-0 in the championship game of the GLIAC Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

It created an impromptu celebration on the field as players and fans rushed it after the game was over to celebrate.

The Wildcats hosted the semifinal and final rounds due to winning the league’s regular season title and defeating Michigan Tech in Tuesday’s tourney quarterfinals.

It certainly didn’t hurt NMU, which scored seven goals while allowing just one in the event’s final two rounds.

Members of the Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team jump and raise a hand with the trophy after clinching the GLIAC Tournament championship following their 3-0 victory over Saginaw Valley State in a game played at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette on Sunday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

“It’s nothing sort of amazing,” NMU assistant coach Natalie Stampfly said, subbing for head coach Jon Sandoval after he was reportedly suspended by the GLIAC for using too many players after he emptied his bench in a recent blowout.

“It’s a position I’ve never been in as a player, as a coach, and just seeing them out there.

“And this team deserves it. It”s a group that really deserves it.”

The Wildcats swept the regular season and tournament titles for the second straight season after never accomplishing either of those before in the program’s history.

The Wildcats entered Sunday’s game riding high after posting a 4-1 semifinal victory over Davenport two afternoons earlier. For the second straight game, they set the tone early, as Molly Pistorius scored barely more than four minutes in. Picking up a loose ball in front of the net, Pistorius buried it to give the Wildcats a quick 1-0 lead with an assist going to Hannah Kastamo.

The Wildcats continued to apply pressure while maintaining defensive discipline. SVSU managed a few promising attacks, but NMU’s back line stood tall, supported by key stops from freshman goalkeeper Sally Patton, who backstopped her fourth shutout this season after she finished with four saves.

As the first half wore on, possession evened out, with each team battling hard for control in the midfield. But Northern’s Justina L’Esperance broke through in the 36th minute, scoring on a sharp shot to double the Wildcats’ lead heading into halftime.

“It was again how I mentioned on Friday,” Stampfly said. “At halftime, they kind of were the ones that picked themselves up and were like, listen, we got to possess the ball. We got to do A-B-C.

“(We) came out very, very strong second half, and they just really wanted it. And you could tell.”

The Wildcats wasted no time asserting themselves after the break. Not quite 5 1/2 minutes into the second half, L’Esperance struck again, scoring a highlight-reel goal while falling to the ground. Her second of the day made it 3-0, with an assist credited to

With the two tallies Sunday, L’Esperance now has 15 goals and 37 points this season, one short of the NMU single-season goal record and tying the single-season points mark. Goals are worth two points and assists one in soccer statistics. Each of those records was originally set by Renee LeBlanc in 2005.

NMU controlled the game from there, keeping the Cardinals at bay and piling on scoring chances.

Saginaw Valley goalkeeper Lainey Garbarz made several strong saves to keep the scoreline from growing even larger, but NMU’s relentless attack proved too much to handle and as the time winding down, the Wildcats nearly popped in another goal but settled for the three-goal victory.

With the championship secured, the Wildcats turn their attention to the NCAA tournament, where they’ll aim to make a deep run.

“I think going into the next game, they know what to expect,” Stampfly said about the NMU team. “We have a lot of experience with 13 seniors, a few fifth-year players, a lot of upperclassmen, and they’re ready to go, and they’re ready to be back there.”

The NCAA tournament selection show was scheduled for Sunday evening, while the GLIAC all-tournament team also was set to be announced around that time.

Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.