UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich.- The Saginaw Valley State men's soccer team scored two late goals to take a 2-0 win over Parkside on Friday at Braddock Field. The Cardinals (7-1-5, 5-1-3 GLIAC) held possession for 61% of the game, compared to the Rangers (5-7-1, 3-5-1 GLIAC) 39%.
The first half saw a lot of action in both teams' attacking ends. SVSU fired 11 shots while UWP had five. Adrian Hatman (Hîncesti, Moldova, Lucian Blaga) applied pressure quickly, taking the first shot of the game in the fourth minute. The Cardinals recorded the first six shots of the game. Jack Franklin (Jenks, Okla.) recorded his first save of the game in the 36th minute, which stifled an open look for the Rangers. SVSU had the last three shots of the first half, including two on goal, but could not connect after Matty Telfer (Newcastle, England, Sunderland College) and Josh Izu (Lagos, Nigeria) had their shots saved. The game went into halftime in a 0-0 tie.
Saginaw Valley State had a stout defensive performance in the second half. The Cardinals limited UWP, allowing only four shots in the second half while taking 13 of their own. SVSU opened the scoring in the 70th minute when Oleksiy Kharko (Mississauga, Ontario, Philip Pocock Secondary Catholic School) passed the ball to Jo Bédard (Québec City, Canada, St. Andrew's School), who found Bryan Martinez-Robles (Coldwater, Mich., Coldwater HS) on a crossing pass, and Martinez-Robles headed it into the net for his first career goal. Telfer scored with 10 seconds remaining to put SVSU up 2-0. Franklin recorded two more saves in the second half.
Overall, the Cardinals outshot the Rangers, 24-9, 11-3 on goal. SVSU was whistled for 14 fouls compared to five for Parkside, but all three yellow cards in the game went against UWP.
Up Next: Saginaw Valley State is back in action on Sunday as they take on Purdue Northwest for Senior Day at 2:00 at Braddock Field.
