NMU Sports Information contributed to this report. Click the AUDIO button to hear RRN's interview with Coach Alex Fatovic. Photos courtesy of NMU.
SAGINAW---The Northern Michigan University men's soccer team keeps making history.
The boys followed up two GLIAC tournament victories with an improbable conference championship win on Sunday, 1-0, over first-place Saginaw Valley State, on the Cardinals' home field. It was the first-ever championship for the Wildcats, who finished in last place in 2024 and got off to a slow start in matches this season.
“My emotions are everywhere,” NMU Coach Alex Favotic told RRN Sports in an interview from the bus as the team came home Sunday afternoon. “Obviously, incredibly proud of the group. There's so many people to thank. But it comes down to our players. It's been seven games since we lost our last game. Just so happy that we can celebrate. Hard work pays off, it really does.”
On a roster filled mostly with international players, it was an unlikely American who played the role of hero for a most unlikely victory. Sophomore Tyler Kowalczyk, from DePere, Wisconsin, found the back of the net in the 71st minute, assisted by Luca Rosen and James Carr. From there, the Wildcats had to hold off a furious rally from the Cardinals as they dezsperately tried to equalize in the final 15 minutes.
"This is a big moment for everybody, not just me, but the whole team,” Kowalczyk said. “Scoring the game-winning goal in the championship is a moment that I've been dreaming about since I was a kid… I made a run to the back post, Luca [Rosen] made a play to me, and I just tapped it in. I was in the right place at the right time."
“What can you say about Tyler Kowalczyk?” Fatovic said. “The GLIAC is a tough, physical league. Grinders. We've got a mix of what I call piano players, and piano movers. And yeah, the guy from Green Bay, Tyler Kowalcyzk, gets the game-winning goal. I'm so proud of him. It's an amazing story that we're getting a kid from Green Bay, which we consider to be our region, and he ends up getting this.”
It was also an emotional moment for the seniors on this Wildcat team, which endured a last-place finish in the GLIAC standings just one year ago.
"I always believed we could do it. As the season went on and we were winning more games and getting in better shape towards the end, I knew we could go all the way, and we did it,” NMU captain Alessandro Scialanga said. "We have a fantastic group of guys. We have a lot of support, a great coaching staff. This has been our strength all season long. Everybody from the bench can come in and put up a performance, and that's our main asset."
"A lot is going through my mind, but this is everything and means the world to me,” fellow Wildcat senior Jan Hoffmann added. “We said we could do it, and we did it. This trophy is a tribute to everyone who supported us, but I also know that there is a lot to come for the younger guys. There are a lot of good things coming to this program in the future."
Saginaw outshot Northern, 20-6, but only four of them were on goal, and NMU goalkeeper Asaf Kristal stopped them all. And Kristal was helped by his defense, keyed by Terry Grimaldi, who made two clutch blocked shots down the stretch.
NMU improved to 9-4-6 with the win. Saginaw Valley fell to 11-3-4.
“This is not something that has happened in a vacuum,” Fatovic said, noting that the Wildcats had as many fans on hand in Saginaw as the home team did. “So many people have helped us along the way. It's not just what's inside the lines. It's also outside the lines. Helping us to build support, a culture.”
And now, for the first time ever, the Wildcats will play in the NCAA Tournament. The Selection Show, at www.ncaa.com, will be held Monday night at 8:00.
