The Basics

Score: Drury 2, No. 12 Saginaw Valley 1 
Records: DU (12-4-3) | SVSU (15-5-1)
Location: Braddock Field - University Center, Mich.
Drury is No. 6 Regional Seed | SVSU is No. 3 Regional Seed 

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The No. 12-ranked SVSU men's soccer team, entering the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament as the No. 3 regional seed, hosted No. 6 Drury University in a first round matchup on Friday (Nov. 11) afternoon. After a scoreless opening half, the Panthers scored a pair of early second half goals and held off an SVSU offensive attack in the closing moments to preserve a 2-1 victory at SV's Braddock Field.

No goals came in the opening 45 minutes but SVSU put three shots on goal and the Panthers had a side shot rattle-off the cross bar to provide for some offensive action.

After coming out from the 0-0 stalemate at the halftime break, the Panthers got a goal from Vince Sasso at the 53:43 marker to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. They added another 57:21 into the contest when David Cross scored to push the lead out to 2-0.

The Cardinals responded with a long goal off the foot of junior forward Matt Wilson, as he put one high over the goalkeeper's head, touching it off the inside part of the cross bar and over the line to make the score 2-1 at the 68:41 point.

Saginaw Valley continued to stay on the offensive, creating more opportunities, including back-to-back chances on an Omar Sinclair shot that hit the cross bar and a header from Troy Watson that was saved, both inside of eight minutes to play. Shots by Azaad Liadi and Andrew Dalou inside of the six minute mark were also saved by the Panther goalkeeper. 

The Panthers were able to preserve the single goal lead and claim the 2-1 win, securing them a matchup with Tiffin on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Inside the Boxscore

• Wilson's goal was his 15th of the season for the Cardinals. 
• Saginaw Valley posted a 14-4 overall edge in shots, putting seven of those on goal. 
• The Cards also held a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks for the match.
• Watson had a match-high four shots in his final match for the Cardinals. He put three of those on goal.
• SVSU finished the season with 15 victories, tying last year's team for the second-most wins in program history.

From Head Coach Andy Wagstaff 

Up Next...

The loss ends the 2016 campaign for the Cardinals, who competed in the NCAA Division II Tournament in five of the past six seasons. The team loses six senior from this year's squad. 

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