UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team entered the NCAA DII Men's Soccer National Tournament as the No. 1 seed in Super Region 3 and hosted the regional quarterfinal against No. 8 seed Lake Erie College on Sunday at Braddock Field.
The Cardinals scored in the first half, but the Storm answered in the second half to send the game into overtime. After two scoreless extra periods, the game went to penalty kicks where the Storm prevailed 3-2. The contest goes into the books as a 1-1 tie and SVSU's season ends with the Cardinals unbeaten at 14-0-5 overall.
Jayden Cameron got the Cardinals on the board early with his fifth goal of the season. The assist on the goal went to Elliot Nottoli in the 17th minute.
The Storm had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the 40th minute on a penalty kick but SVSU goalkeeper Mason Maziasz made the save and another on the rebound to keep the Cardinals in front heading into the half.
Lake Erie found the tying goal in the 62nd minute on the 15th of the season from Connor Mautino on an assist from Tomas Fernandez. SVSU held a 12- advantage in shots in the second half, but could not put the game away in regulation.
The teams played two scoreless extra periods sending the game to a shootout.
Logan Kunnen put SVSU up 1-0 on his penalty kick and Maziasz saved the first attempt from Lake Erie. Maziasz stepped up to take the next kick for the Cardinals but sailed it high. He made another save on the second kick for the Storm and SVSU remained in front 1-0.
The third kick for the Cardinals was taken and made by backup goalkeeper Nick Kay, but Lake Erie trimmed the SVSU lead to 2-1 with a make from Ben Wiemann. Jayden Cameron's kick for SVSU hit the crossbar and stayed out and the Storm tied it at 2-2 with a make on their fourth kick.
The final round started with a kick from SVSU's Chidie Nnolim that was saved and Lake Erie won the shootout 3-2 on a make from Fabian Kiessetz.
Lake Erie advances to the NCAA DII Super Region 3 Semifinals next week.