TIFFIN, Ohio – The No. 6 Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team remained unbeaten to begin the 2026 season after battling Tiffin to a 1-1 draw Thursday afternoon at Paradiso Athletic Complex.

The Cardinals (1-0-2) took the lead late in the opening half on the first career goal from Gabo Vazquez (San Juan, Puerto Rico, DME Academy) before the Dragons found the equalizer in the 78th minute.

Saginaw Valley created the first opportunity on goal when Matty Telfer (Newcastle, England, Sunderland College) forced a save in the seventh minute. Tiffin answered with its first shot on target in the 38th, but goalkeeper Nick Kay (Walled Lake, Mich., Walled Lake Central HS) made the stop to keep the match scoreless.

The Cardinals began to apply pressure late in the half. Bernd Rathgeber (Nördlingen, Germany, BWG Neresheim Secondary School) put an attempt on goal in the 42nd minute before SVSU earned a corner with less than two minutes remaining.

The ensuing opportunity produced the opening goal. Adrian Hatman (Hîncesti, Moldova, Lucian Blaga) set up Vazquez off the corner as Vazquez's header hit the cross bar, redirected off a body in the six-yard box, and found it's way in the net. The Tiffin defense thought they had cleared it off the line, but the referee awarded the goal for a 1-0 Cardinal lead.

Tiffin pushed for the equalizer after the break, producing four shots over the opening 16 minutes of the second half. The Dragons came closest in the 54th minute when an attempt struck the left post.

SVSU nearly doubled its advantage moments later when Telfer put another attempt on frame in the 58th minute, but the shot was saved.

The Dragons eventually broke through in the 78th minute to level the match at 1-1.

Saginaw Valley responded by creating opportunities in the closing minutes. Noah Jackson (Redford, Mich., North Farmington HS) and Hatman each recorded attempts in the 84th minute before Jo Bédard (Québec City, Canada, St. Andrew's School) put a shot on goal with less than three minutes remaining. Tiffin goalkeeper Nick Cherry made the save, and the Cardinals earned one final corner in the 89th minute but were unable to find a winner.

The two sides finished even with nine shots apiece, while Saginaw Valley held a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Cardinals also recorded six corner kicks compared to five for the Dragons.

Telfer led SVSU with two shots on goal, while Vazquez scored on his only attempt of the afternoon. Bédard and Rathgeber each added a shot on target.

Up Next: SVSU men's soccer is back at home on Sunday, September 6, when they host Northern Michigan in a non-conference matchup. The Cardinals and the Wildcats kickoff at 2 PM at Robert C. Braddock Field.