Grand Valley 3, Saginaw Valley 0
SVSU 10-7-2 (4-4-1 GLIAC)
GVSU 17-3 ( 9-0 GLIAC)
ALLENDALE, Mich. — The Saginaw Valley State Women's Soccer team fell on the road to GLIAC tournament finals, Grand Valley State, 3-0, Sunday afternoon. The Lakers are now 17-3 overall and will continue onto the NCAA DII Regionals next week with the selection show happening on Monday, Nov. 6. The Cardinals have offically ended their season with a finishing 10-6-2 record.
The first half was a battle of the Valley's with both teams posting a seven shots, two on target. One of Grand Valley's shots slid in the back of the net with a rolling cross from the left corner to the right post with one minute remaining in the half. The Lakers led 1-0 over the Cardinals at halftime.
Cardinals did not back down in the final 45 minutes of play, posting seven shots once again, with all on target. GVSU also had seven shots and contributed two goals. The Lakers second goal came early in the half, notching one in left footed to the right post, taking the lead 2-nil. The Saginaw Valley team stayed strong for another 20 minutes of play until the Lakers flipped one up inside the box and headed in over SVSU goalkeeper Abby Divozzo's head for a rainbow finish.
Grand Valley went on to defeat Saginaw Valley 3-nil for the GLIAC Tournament Championship Title. The Lakers have now won the GLIAC regular season and tournament titles for the 2017 season.
All-Tournament Team Honorees:
• Senior midfieldler Alexis Hilliard
• Sophomore defender Brianna Bishop
• Sophomore defender Jennifer Muana
Inside the Box Score
• Hilliard led the team with three shots on goal.
• Sakura Bals followed with two shots on target.
• The Cardinals knotted up shots against Grand Valley, each with 14.
• Abby Divozzo posted five saves.
• SVSU put nine shots on target to GVSU's five.
From head coach Michael O'Neill
"I'm so proud of this team. We had the hardest route to the championship game but we didn't back down one bit. We were the better team in the first half and were unlucky not to be in front at half time. I knew we had heavy legs coming into it but I knew this group was mentally tough enough to push through. We lose 3 great seniors this year but I know this group will be back next year hungry as ever. "
Up Next...
The Cardinals have concluded their 2017 campaign with the loss to Grand Valley, posting a 10-7-2 (4-4-1 GLIAC) finish on the year. SVSU Women's Soccer team will lose three outstanding seniors in the program heading into the 2018 season.
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