ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer program had a rematch of last year's GLIAC championship with Purdue Northwest in the 2024 GLIAC semifinals. The Cardinals (12-5-0, 8-4-0 GLIAC) got revenge over the Pride (7-9-2, 3-7-2 GLIAC) with a 1-0 win, the same score as the 2023 championship, and advanced to the GLIAC championship on Sunday.
Jayden Cameron led Saginaw Valley with four shots, two on goal, and the lone goal in the 82nd minute. Ryan Bovee and Matty Telfer both had two shots as well as the Cardinals were outshot 14-12 and Purdue Northwest led 5-2 in shots on goal. SVSU's goalkeeper Nick Kay stopped all five shots he faced in the clean sheet victory, his seventh of the year moving him into second most in program history with 13.
All five shots on goal for the Pride came in the first half while both shots on goal for the Cardinals were in the final 45 minutes. Purdue Northwest led in fouls 20-17 after both teams had nine in the first half of the match. There were eight cards handed out, all in the second half. Three yellow cards to PNW and four to SVSU before a red card was shows to the Pride as time expired.
The lone goal was scored with 8:45 left on the clock as a loose ball in the 18-yard box was controlled by Cameron. He cut to his left to open up a shot and his strike was pure to the top left corner of the goal. The Cardinals survived the final minutes with a scare as the seconds ticked off when a header off their own defender almost got behind Kay to tie the match. Kay stopped the ball on the line and punted it down field as the last seconds ran off and the Cardinals were victorious.
Up Next: Saginaw Valley men's soccer plays in their third straight GLIAC championship. The Cardinals were champions in 2022 defeating Davenport and fell to Purdue Northwest in 2023. They look to win two tournament championships in three years as they take on tournament host, Roosevelt on Sunday, November 17. The match is set for 4:00 PM EST from Morris Field in Arlington Heights, Ill.
