Laurence Paterson joined the SVSU men's and women's soccer programs as the goalkeepers coach in 2019. 

During the Fall 2021 season, the Cardinal men finished 10-5-5 overall and 6-3-5 in the GLIAC. Mason Maziasz and Callum Harley split time in net for the Cardinals. Maziasz led the GLIAC in save-percentage at .885, he also ranked first in goals against with three, and goals against average at 0.39. Harley finished second behind Masziaz in those three statistical categories as well. Paterson was also apart of a women's staff that saw SVSU advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional Final before falling to rival Grand Valley State. It was the first time in program history the Cardinals made the Sweet 16, while setting a program record for wins in a season. Overall the women's team finished 14-6-3 overall and 9-4-2 in league play. Olivia Argeros was named the GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-GLIAC after setting a program single-season record with 13 shutouts. The senior also recorded 99 saves and played every possible minute in net for the Cardinals during the season. Additionally the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association named Argeros Second Team All-Midwest Region. 

The 2021 spring season saw the women's team advance to the GLIAC Quarterfinals while Alyssa Watts earned Second Team All-GLIAC honors. The men's team would win the GLIAC Regular Season championship with a perfect 7-0-0 record. The Cardinals would defeat Upper Iowa in the quarterfinals of the tournament before falling to Ashland in the semifinals. Danny Barlow and Ben Adamson were both named to the GLIAC All-Tournament team. Overall 12 Cardinals earned All-GLIAC honors, including head coach Louis Barrow, who was named the Coach of the Year by the conference. Barlow was the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Robbie Baker was the Defensive Player of the Year. In net Mason Maziasz was named the GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year under the direction of Paterson. Robbie Bruce joined the trio on the All-GLIAC First Team, while Adamson, Kairo Coore, and Brady Walker landed on the Second Team. Lachlan Hepburn earned Honorable Mention All-GLIAC honors as well. 

In 2019, Saginaw Valley's Women's Soccer team posted a 12-7 overall record, sealing a trip to the GLIAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Cardinals advanced to the title match of the tournament before falling just short of another NCAA Division II Tournament appearance. Molly Vanderhoff and Sakura Bals each earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors while Autumn Kloha was named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention squad.

The men's squad went 13-6-1 overall and bowed-out in the GLIAC Tournament Championship match, just falling short of an NCAA Division II Tournament bid as well. On the men's side, Connor Rutz was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year and All-GLIAC First Team. Alex Gloshen and Wladimir Babaew were each named All-GLIAC Second Team while Robbie Bruce earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention honors. Rutz, Gloshen, Babaew and Bruce all earned All-Midwest Region honors as well for the 2019 campaign. Rutz would go on to be named a United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team member as well.