This story was written by NMU Sports Information

MARQUETTE---Senior Luca Lippert (Langen, Germany) scored three goals for the first career hat trick in Northern Michigan University Men's Soccer program history as the team collected their first-ever overtime victory with a 3-2 win over Purdue University Northwest to open Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

The Wildcats took an early lead as they scored just over four minutes into the match. Senior Callum Olpin (Norwich, England) got the ball up field and crossed it over to freshman Ryan Palmbaum (Rocklin, California). Palmbaum then passed ahead to junior Arni Eiriksson (Akureyri, Iceland) who found senior Luca Lippert (Langen, Germany) in the middle of the box and Lippert put the ball into the net to give NMU a 1-0 lead.

After Purdue Northwest scored two goals in the second half, the Wildcats faced a 2-1 deficit but Lippert tied the match with 23 minutes left in regulation. 

Senior Lewis Murray (Edinburgh, Scotland) passed the ball ahead but the Pride deflected the pass. Lippert was able to corral the deflection, took one dribble up the field to his right and fired the shot past the PNW goalkeeper into the bottom right corner for the equalizer.

NMU scored the game winner with 3:10 left in the first overtime to capture the victory.  The Wildcats were given a corner kick which Olpin sent across the field, heading directly to Lippert who put his third goal into the net for the game-winner.

NMU outshot the Pride 17-6 in the contest, including a 7-1 advantage in the first half. Olpin led the way with four shots while Lippert and Murray both added three. Sophomore Kaffie Kurz (Paynesville, Liberia), freshman Francisco Espinoza (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Palmbaum all chipped in with two shots.

Freshman Keegan Schmidt (Bettendorf, Iowa) aided the effort with a shot as well.

In net, freshman Jonas Vorbau (Wuppertal, Germany) collected his second victory of the season.

The Wildcats move to 2-3 while the Pride fall to 0-5 on the season. NMU returns to action Sunday afternoon to host first-year member Upper Iowa University for another GLIAC contest.