The Basics
Score: No. 22 Saginaw Valley 4, Tiffin 4 - 2 OT
Records: SVSU (13-3-1, 11-3-1 GLIAC) | TU (11-3-2, 9-3-2 GLIAC)
Location: Paradiso Field - Tiffin, Ohio
TIFFIN, Ohio - Playing on the road in a pivotal GLIAC men's soccer contest, the nationally 23rd-ranked SVSU men's soccer team was part of a high scoring affair and would end up tying with the Dragons, 4-4 after neither team could score in overtime.
The Cardinals got three goals from freshman forward Roderic Green, who recorded his first career hat trick in the effort.
Andrew Dalou got the first goal of the contest and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead after he punched one in from the right side at the 7:27 point to break the ice.
The Dragons responded with a pair of goals, using a penalty kick at 31:09 after a handball in the box and another goal 33:59 into the contest to take a 2-1 lead over the Cardinals.
That score held true until just before the half, when Green sent the teams into the break knkotted at 2-2 when he used a Troy Watson feed with just 1:12 remaining on the first period clock.
Tiffin would once again grab an advantage in the match, scoring again at the 59:50 point to take a 3-2 edge.
Green would respond again for the visitors, however, as he scored two consecutive goals for SVSU, using a Matt Wilson corner kick feed at the 67:24 mark and a helper from Dalou at the 73:50 marker to put the Cardinal lead at 4-3.
The Dragons would not go away, however, and would sneak one into the goal with just nine seconds left to tie the game at 4-4 and force an overtime session.
Saginaw Valley put a shot on goal in the first 10 minute overtime session but neither team would put another point on the board. In the eventual second overtime, Tiffin had a shot on goal that was turned away by SVSU's Connor Keane, but the contest would finish in a 4-4 tie.
Inside the Boxscore
- Green's three goals give him seven for the season, as he also has a pair of assists.
- Dalou now has five goals and four assists after posting one of each in the game.
- Wilson notched his league-leading 11th assist, as he continues his tremendous junior campaign.
- Watson's assist gives him three on the year to go along with his pair of scores.
- The tie was the first for SVSU on the 2016 season.
- Saginaw Valley now has 34 points and will remain atop the league standings. A win or Tiffin loss seals an outright league title for the Cardinals and a tie secures the right to host the 2016 league tournament.
From Head Coach Andy Wagstaff
"Coming to Tiffin today knowing a win and three points would give us at least a share of the GLIAC Championship was exhilarating and knowing at least a draw would help us get one step closer to claiming the trophy was good. Leading with 15 seconds left, up 4-3, I firmly believed we could hang on but it wasn't to be. Both teams went at each other blow for blow like a heavyweight boxing match and I don't either coach would argue about sharing the points. I can honestly say I haven't coached in a game like this at any level. The drama in our last two games is unprecedented but it makes for a very entertaining season. Our players showed incredible courage and desire, using those both to grab a hard-earned point. We now have to recover for Friday, which is senior day, and a great opportunity to wi nthe league at home and earn the right to host the GLIAC Tournament."
Up Next...
The Cardinals maintain sole possession of first place in the GLIAC standings and can secure an outright league championship with a victory Friday (Oct. 28) over Northern Michihgan University. Saginaw Valley hosts the Wildcats at Braddock Field in a 2:30 p.m. matchup in the final regular season match. The Cards defeated the Wildcats earlier this season, posting a 1-0 victory in Marquette, Michigan.
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