UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team opens the 2022 season with a pair of games this weekend.

The Cardinals are coming off the most successful season in program history and will look to continue building towards the top of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

SVSU finished 2021 with a record of 14-6-3 overall and 9-4-2 in the GLIAC. After receiving an at-large bid, the Cardinals advance all the way to the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Final before falling to eventual national champion Grand Valley State University.

SVSU will be under the direction of Head Coach Tyler Channell, who takes over after serving as the program's assistant coach last season. The Cardinals were picked to finish third in the GLIAC in the preseason coaches poll. SVSU is ranked No. 24 in the Preseason NCAA DII Coaches Poll.

Key Returners:

• Stephanie Strong, Sophomore, Forward: 2021 GLIAC Freshman of the Year, All-GLIAC First Team, All-Region Second Team, set a new SVSU record for goals with 14, scored four game-winning goals.   
• Solana Kelly, Sophomore, Defense: Started in 20 games for the Cardinals as a freshman, scoring one goal and adding two assists, while helping lead the strong SVSU defense that record 11 shutouts.  
• Amy Babon, Senior, Forward: All-GLIAC and All-Region Second Team in 2021, scored eight goals and added five assists, playing in all 23 games for the Cardinals.
• Gabby Green, Sophomore, Midfield: Scored the game-winning goal in overtime for the Cardinals in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to push SVSU to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in program history.

Other key returners for the Cardinals include Kennedi Pugh, Lainey Garbarz, Carlee Davis, Lindsey Rzeszutko, Madie Saleh, Dori Payne, Casey Rice, Kylie Lukowski, Sarah Fredrick, Jensen Taylor, Brianna Cobbs, Olivia Cogo, Larissa Barnett, Rileigh Garbarz, Ally Gaunt, and Sara Samolinski.

Newcomers for the Cardinals in 2022 include Lainey Garbarz, Madi Bajis, Madison White, Sophia Zalucki, Morgan Bogacki, Kaley Douglass, and Jessie Falloon.

Joining Channell on the bench in 2022 will be assistant coaches Pablo Ortiz, Damon Favero, Bridget Symborski, Kyle Grew.

The Cardinals open the 2022 season against Truman State University at 2:30 pm Friday in Kirksville, Mo.

The home portion of the schedule opens with a matchup with Walsh University on Sept. 2, followed by a game with Ohio Dominican University on Sept. 4 at home.

The GLIAC season starts at home for SVSU against Davenport University on Sept. 9 and GVSU comes to town on Sept. 11. The regular season closes with three home games, finishing with Senior Day against Ferris State University on Oct. 28.

The GLIAC Tournament will take place Nov. 1-6 at campus sites, while the NCAA DII National Tournament begins Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 3.

Season preview with Head Coach Tyler Channell Below: