CALEDONIA, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team continued its strong start to GLIAC play Friday afternoon, earning a 2-0 road victory over Davenport at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex.
The Cardinals (5-2-0, 3-0-0 GLIAC) recorded their third consecutive clean sheet while improving to 3-0 in conference play. SVSU outshot Davenport 16-10 and put 11 attempts on goal while holding the Panthers to four shots on target.
Saginaw Valley broke through in the 23rd minute when Jaidyn Veldhouse (Grandville, Mich., Calvin Christian HS) scored her second goal of the season. Grace Battershell (Rochester Hills, Mich., Adams HS) picked up the assist, laying off a pass to the middle outside of the box as Veldhouse drove her right foot through the ball and put it in the top right corner.
The Cardinals controlled much of the opening half offensively, producing eight shots and forcing five saves while the defense limited Davenport to just two attempts.
SVSU doubled their advantage shortly after halftime. Abby Ellis (Waterford, Mich., Waterford Mott HS) found the back of the net in the 49th minute for her third goal of the season. Melanie Kolnitys (Midland, Mich., H. H. Dow HS) sent a long pass up the left side that sprung Ellis to take one touch around the keeper and roll it into the empty net.
Davenport increased its pressure in the second half with eight shots and five corner kicks, but the Cardinal defense kept the Panthers off the scoreboard. Ava Wilberding (Grand Rapids, Mich., Forest Hills Central HS) made three of her four saves after halftime.
Wilberding finished with four saves to earn her second individual shutout of the season. The Cardinals have not allowed a goal over their last three matches and have outscored their opponents 6-0 during the stretch, winning each match 2-0.
Head coach Tyler Channell said this after the win,
"Great result today and a complete performance from back to front. It's our third clean sheet in a row to start the conference off. We were on the front foot for most of the game and thought we deserved a couple of more goals. Regardless, Davenport is a quality side and we gave them their first loss today and showed we are going to fight for things at the end. Very pleased with the group today and number of players that contributed."
Up Next: Women's soccer is back at home with a ranked opponent on Sunday, September 20. The Cardinals and No. 6 Grand Valley State Lakers are set for a 1 PM kickoff for Mental Health Awareness Day at Robert C. Braddock Field.
