This story was written by NMU Sports Information
ASHLAND, Ohio---Northern Michigan University Women's Soccer (4-11-2, 2-5-2 GLIAC) saw their season come to an end Tuesday afternoon falling, 3-0, to Ashland University (12-5-1, 7-2 GLIAC) in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.
The conference tournament appearance marked the fifth-consecutive for the Wildcats who have earned a berth 10 of the past 11 seasons.
It was the NMU defense that stepped up in the first half against six shots by the Eagles in the opening half. Despite the 6-1 shot advantage in the first 45 minutes, including four on-goal, the Wildcats managed to maintain a scoreless tie at the half.
Freshman goalkeeper Brianna Frontuto(Luxemburg, Wisconsin) lead the defensive efforts, making the save on all four shots on-goal by the Eagles in the first half. The four saves were the second most in a half this season for Frontuto.
Wasting little time in the second half, Ashland found the back of the net less than two minutes in to take the lead. In the 55th-minute, a cross was deflected by Frontuto straight to the Eagles' Morgan Bittengale who put AU up a pair.
The final score for the Eagles came in the 86th-minute when an AU shot deflected off a Wildcat defender and into the net. The score put NMU into a 3-0 deficit with five minutes to, sealing a victory for Ashland.
NMU's lone shot in the contest came from senior forward Madison Hamilla (Gaylord, Michigan). The Wildcats struggled to find an offensive rhythm and did not record a shot in the second half.
Despite the flurry of goals, Frontuto recorded four saves in the game to end her freshman season with 85. That number is the eighth most in a season and moves her into 11th for a career in the Wildcat record books.
First year head coach Sonia Basma and the 2017 Wildcats end their season with a 4-11-2 record, 2-5-2 in GLIAC matches.
