Isaiah Wiita | iwiita@uwsuper.edu

Two University of Wisconsin-Superior soccer athletes have been playing at NBC Spartan Sports Complex for years before their collegiate careers started.

Junior forward Niya Wilson and junior defender Alex Hanson are alumni of Superior High School, where their high school soccer career began at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex.

Hanson played in all 22 soccer matches during the 2022 season for the Yellowjackets, recording 1,706 minutes as a defenseman. As for Wilson, during the Yellowjackets 2022 soccer season, Wilson set the record for all-time goals scored. These reasons are why both players earned third team All-American honors for Division III.

The 2022 soccer season was the last time these two will play at NBC Spartan Sports Complex due to the construction of the Superior Choice Credit Union Stadium.

Alex Hanson and Niya Wilson at the SCCU Stadium reveal. | Photo by Jeffrey McClure

“I am so beyond excited for the new field to be ready. I think it will be the next step to becoming a better program especially because we can have greater amounts of field access,” said Wilson.

The Yellowjackets powerhouse players are nostalgic and reflect on their experience at NBC Spartan Sports Complex.

“My favorite memory at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex would either be this year’s UMAC Championship or last year’s UMAC Championship. The first year was especially exciting because it was our first program UMAC Championship win,” said Wilson.

The UWS women’s soccer program brought home the 2022 Upper Midwestern Athletic Conference championship, defeating Northwestern (Minn), 6-0.

As for the men’s soccer program, they defeated Bethany Lutheran, 3- 0 to claim the 2022 UMAC championship.

“It was assisting our senior goalkeeper off a free kick my junior year. I believe it was the last home game… and I helped him get his first goal in his last game at the complex,” said Hanson.

The Yellowjacket’s new home stadium is expected to open in September 2023.

Welcoming Yellowjacket fans, track and field athletes, and the 2023 soccer season.