Marquette MI – November 20th, 2025 – The Northern Michigan University Men’s soccer team completed a storybook turnaround in 2025, rewriting program history only one year after finishing at the bottom of the GLIAC standings. The Wildcats ended the 2024 season with a 3-8-1 conference record and failed to qualify for the GLAIC tournament, a disappointment that fueled their motivation heading into the new campaign.
In 2025, the wildcats doubled their conference win total, finishing 6-4-2 in GLIAC play and 9-5-6 overall. Their improved form earned them a long-awaited return to the GLIAC tournament, and for the first time ever, they were rewarded with the chance to host a postseason match. The opening-round set the tone for the Wildcats’ resilience. After battling to a 2-2 draw through regulation and overtime, NMU survived an intense eight-round penalty shootout, winning 6-5 to advance to the semifinals.
The Wildcats then faced second-seeded Roosevelt, a team that had bested them earlier in the season. This time, NMU flipped the script. In overtime, forward Ian Weimer delivered a clutch game-winner, sending the Wildcats to their first-ever GLIAC championship appearance in program history and igniting the belief that something special was brewing.
To claim the conference crown, Northern Michigan had to take down top-seeded Saginaw Valley State on their home field. In the 71st minute, Junior Tyler Kowalczyk delivered the decisive moment of the season, scoring his first goal of the year and just the second of his career. The strike held through a tense final stretch, securing a 1-0 victory and the first GLIAC Championship in program history. The win also earned the Wildcats an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, another milestone moment for the rapidly rising program. Four Wildcats, James Carr, Jan Hoffman, Quint Van Roji, and Ian Weimer were named to the All-GLIAC Tournament team, highlighting both the star power and depth that carried NMU through its postseason run.
Northern Michigan’s historic season continued into the NCAA tournament, where they drew a tough first-round matchup against Cedarville University (12-1-7). The Wildcats held their own in a gritty, defensive battle, but their season came to an end when Cedarville’s Christian Nardelli scored in the 86th minute. Despite the heartbreaking finish, the Wildcats walked off the pitch knowing they had changed the trajectory of the program forever.
In just one year, Northern Michigan Men’s soccer went from last place to conference champions, from overlooked to undeniable contenders. Their 2025 campaign wasn’t just a turnaround; it was a statement. And with a young core returning, this historic season may be only the beginning of a new standard for Wildcat soccer.
