UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team opened the home portion of the 2021 spring season with a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest against Northern Michigan University Thursday at Braddock Field.
The Cardinals answered a two-goal deficit on two occasions with tallies from Jensen Taylor but were unable to find an equalizer after NMU scored twice early in the first half. Taylor's second goal late in regulation was not enough as SVSU fell 3-2, dropping to 0-2-0 this season.
The Wildcats jumped in front early with a goal in the ninth minute from Caroline Halonen unassisted, while Brenna Musser doubled the NMU advantage in the 23rd minute.
Taylor scored her first of the game as she gathered a pass from Anna Carrier near the top of the six-yard box and found the back of the net late in the first half. The goal was the first of the season for SVSU and the first of Taylor's career.
After Halonen scored shortly after the break to regain a two-goal advantage for the Wildcats, the game settled into a defensive battle. Taylor broke through with a goal off her own rebound in the 89th minute to pull the Cardinals within one, but SVSU was unable to gain a meaningful possession in the final minute and the contest ended.
The Cardinals were outshot 16-11, as Alyssa Watts made four saves in the Cardinal net.
SVSU remains home to host Michigan Tech at 1 pm Saturday at Braddock Field.
