UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team earned its first win of the season with a 3-2 decision over rival Northwood on Thursday afternoon. The Cardinals survived a chippy contest with the Timberwolves as the game saw nine cards issued, including a red card on one of the visitors.

Jonathan Monney scored the first goal of the 2023 campaign for SVSU in the 41^st minute of the opening period to give the Cards a 1-0 lead. Monney finished the game with three of his four shots hitting the target. Jayden Cameron had a day with a goal and an assist to lead Saginaw Valley in scoring. Cameron hit two of his three shots on goal. Ryan Bovee was the third goal scorer for the Cardinals. Jack Simms (W, 1-0) made a save in net on the way to earning his first win of the season.

SVSU held a 9-3 edge in shots during the first half but weren't able to push one past the Northwood goalkeeper until the 40:55 mark when Monney beat a defender near the top of the box and drilled a shot high to put the first point on the board. The score would remain at 1-0 through halftime.

Bovee added an insurance goal in the 52^nd minute when a headed pass from Cameron opened him up on a breakaway and he beat the keeper left to score his first goal of the season. Cameron scored a goal of his own in the 67^th minute off a free kick that shook the net on the left side and gave SVSU the 3-0 advantage with just over 20 minutes left in regulation.

A penalty kick gave Northwood its first goal at 73:25 and the Timberwolves added a second in the 82^nd minute to cut the deficit to one. Northwood continued to pressure for a tie, but the Cardinals defense held off the late push and earned the victory.

The Cardinal men's soccer team remains at home for a non-conference matchup with Tiffin this Saturday, September 9 at 12:00 p.m.