Niklas Fitter, a sophomore from Sankt Augstin, Germany, was awarded Male Athlete of the Week for his performance against Dakota Wesleyan University on October 5. After an empty first half, the 6’2” forward scored two goals within four minutes during the second half.
The 3-0 win is the fourth GPAC victory of this season, and Fitter is keeping up with the momentum. He has tallied a total of eight goals and leads the men’s soccer team with eighteen points.
Stan Van Den Beld, a sophomore from Voorhout, Netherlands, and Johannes von Saldern, a sophomore from Jena, Germany assisted Fitter in attacking the DWU Tigers. Their united five shots set the stage for Fitter to complete the win.
Head Coach Dan Swier is proud of the effort and intensity the Raiders exhibited during the win. After winning the Great Plains Athletic Conference title during a rewarding previous season, Swier and company envision the next step. Though they may not have achieved the same results, they are prepared to build on past success.
“We still had a great season and want to finish strong with a good place in the GPAC and then win the GPAC tournament to go to the Nationals,” Fitter said.
The team will battle together to accomplish their goals— to push forward as a family towards the net. Of course, every assist makes the outcome possible.
“The coaches and teammates are like a second family far from home, which is great because we all know we can trust each other on and off the pitch,” Fitter stated.
The roots of his passion for the sport originated in Germany when he was four years old. Big dreams of continuing his soccer career and an interest in travel led him to the United States.
“When I heard about the opportunity to study in the US with a soccer scholarship, it took me less than a minute to decide to move to another country,” Fitter said.
There was an immediate connection. Swier was eager to communicate with Fitter and became the first point of contact before his arrival in the states. Tight bonds between teammates formed rapidly and Niklas Fitter found his place at NW. As a lead scorer and a determined teammate, Fitter is carving his ambitions into something special.
“I don’t know where my journey will take me, but I’ll definitely always keep the love for the sport,” Fitter said.
