UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team used a flurry of goals early in the second half to pull away for a second-straight win, topping Purdue University Northwest Saturday at Braddock Field.
The Cardinals, in their final home game of the regular season, got the scoring starting with the lone goal of the opening half but exploded for three goals in under six minutes to take control in a 4-1 win over the Pride.
"It was great to get back to winning ways this weekend," SVSU Head Coach Michael O'Neill said. "These past couple months we have faced so many setbacks and while we have never given up it really has taken its toll both physically and mentally. We had some important conversations this week and I was extremely proud of how my team responded. We will use this weekend to kickstart our season as we know there is still a lot of soccer to be played."
The win moves SVSU to 2-3-0 overall and in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In a ceremony prior to kickoff, the Cardinals honored their lone senior, goalkeeper Alyssa Watts.
The scoring opened in the 17th minute when Andrea Lopez laid off a nice pass to a streaking Dori Payne who raced down the left side and slid the ball past the charging PNW goalkeeper for her first of the season.
The score remained 1-0 until Autumn Kloha got on the end of a Gabby Green corner kick to the back posted and headed it home for the Cardinals in the 52nd minute. Green wasted no time making it 3-0 with her first of the year, taking a free-kick from 35-yards out and striking it over the keeper's head and into the net just two minutes later.
Lopez got her first of the season to make it 4-0, as Jensen Taylor sent a pass along the six-yard box, bouncing off Payne. Lopez was waiting, settled the ball, and found the net for a 4-0 lead and the third Cardinal goal in six minutes.
The Pride scored their first in the 65th minute but did not get closer. Watts made nine saves in the win, the 27th of her career. SVSU narrowly outshot PNW 19-18.
The Cardinals play the final four games of the regular season on the road, starting against Davenport University at 4 pm Thursday in Grand Rapids, Mich.
