UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University men’s soccer team lost a tough match today (Oct. 19) to visiting Ashland University, 4-3 in overtime.

The goal that ended the game came on a penalty shot just 59 seconds into the overtime session when Saginaw Valley fouled an Ashland player inside their own penalty area.

But, before that, the Cardinals looked like a team on a mission by scoring the first two goals in regulation, the first just 3:24 into the match when senior midfielder Brandon LaBlanc (Saginaw, Mich./Delta College) received a pass from senior forward Brent Walker (Owosso, Mich./Owosso HS) to give SVSU the lead. About nine minutes later, the Cardinals found pay dirt again, this time, senior Larry Ferreira (London, Ont./Regina Mundi College) slipped one into Ashland’s goal after receiving a pass from senior forward Kevin Fox (Flushing, Mich./Flushing HS). Ashland would score 10 minutes later, and the SVSU would go into halftime with a 2-1 lead.

At the 62:13 mark in the game, Walker notched the Cardinals’ third goal of the contest off a pass from Ferreira. After that goal, it was all Ashland, as the Eagles posted two more goals at the 62:58 mark, and at 78:58 to tie the score at three to send the game into overtime.

As the overtime session got underway, the Eagles took the ball down the field, and were fouled inside the Cardinals’ penalty box, giving Ashland a penalty shot that ended the game less than one minute into overtime.

For the Cardinals, Walker got one goal, and two assists to lead SVSU offensively, while Ferreira got a goal and an assist on the afternoon.

The loss drops the Cardinals record to 5-7-2 overall, and 1-5 in the GLIAC. SVSU will return to action Thursday (Oct. 23) when they face Northwood University at the SVSU Soccer Complex. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.