This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Click the VIDEO button to see the NMU post-match press conference. (NMU Photo)
CLAREMORE, Okla. -- The tenth-seeded Northern Michigan University Wildcats (9-5-6) fell to the seventh-seeded #17 Cedarville Yellow Jackets (12-1-7) by a score of 1-0 in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament on Thursday in Oklahoma.
"I couldn't be more proud of my guys," said head coach Alex Fatovic in a post-match press conference. "They fought hard all season, and then specifically today when it seems like everything was against us; the travel, playing Sunday then getting down here to play on Thursday when the opposition has had a week's rest, we lost [Van Roij] with an injury in the first half and had someone else pick up food poisoning in the midfield. Every single thing went against our guys, and it took everything from the opposition to beat them, so it just shows the class and character that our team has."
The Wildcats' historic season came to an end after a diving header by Cedarville's Christian Nardelli found the back of the net with four minutes remaining in the contest. NMU thought they scored a goal of its own in the first half, as Ian Weimer tapped in a rebound off a dropped ball from the goalkeeper, but the officials blew the play dead.
"I thought our team played fantastic, and when you're in the NCAA Tournament, every team is good. Congratulations to Cedarville."
Despite the loss, Asaf Kristal had another strong performance in a season that has seen him rewrite the NMU record book for goaltenders with seven saves on the day. Head coach Fatovic was asked about his impact on the program in his post-match press conference.
"Asaf has been tremendous. What everybody see's in the stats are incredible; but for us, what we see as a team, is his value in leadership, having a positive attitude, and his energy. It was kind of one of the big pieces we were missing last year, and he's been amazing on and off the field."
The Wildcats 'Cinderella Story' came to a close today, but to head coach Fatovic, he said that it was never that.
"To the rest of the soccer world, I think it is a Cinderella story, but for us it's not. We knew what we we're capable of, and what these guys did in the offseason to get better and learn from the mistakes from last season to put them in a position to win the title this year was phenomenal… this group found a way. Their back was against the wall a couple of weeks ago, and since then they've looked inward and found a way to play at the level they're capable of."
Joining head coach Fatovic in the press conference were senior leaders Alessandro Scialanga and Jan Hoffman, who coach described as major contributors to "help put the [NMU men's soccer] program into a position to compete nationally". Scialanga said that the 'Cats biggest strength this season has been the Wildcats strength as a full unit.
"As a whole, our [teams] biggest strength is we have different players who can step up in different moments. We're not just a one-man team, its a full team effort, and every guy can come in and put in a performance… We represent the definition of a team sport."
Fellow senior Jan Hoffmann was asked about what his biggest memory he will take away from his historic final season in the Green and Gold.
"It was the first time in program history that we made the national tournament and we won the GLIAC Championship game, so that's probably what I am going to take out of it. But it still hurts right now… losing in the first round of the national tournament in your senior year wasn't the way I expected today to go, but thats the way soccer goes sometimes."
Hoffmann also said he will take away lasting relationships he's made here.
"This group of guys, the connections I've made, are friends and family, and that's something that I can take with me for the rest of my life."
