UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team punched its ticket to the GLIAC Semifinals with a thrilling 1–0 double-overtime victory over Davenport University on Tuesday afternoon at Robert C. Braddock Field.
The Cardinals (12–5–2) dominated possession and outshot the Panthers 28–5 but needed nearly 106 minutes before breaking through.
SVSU outshot DU 9-3 in the first half, 10-1 in the second half, but both teams were still scoreless. Saginaw Valley had multiple quality chances with shots getting blocked by the collapsing Davenport defense.
The match grew physically with remnants of the last meeting between these two five days ago. 26 combined fouls with 16 in the first half and five yellow cards shown to the Panthers, four to players in the second half and one to their head coach in overtime.
Both teams found chances in the first overtime period, and after more than 100 minutes of scoreless action, Maddie White (Bay City, Mich. / Garber HS) delivered the game-winner at the 105:52 mark of the second overtime.
A corner kick by Kaley Douglass (Williamston, Mich. / Waterford Mott HS) was punched out by the Davenport keeper. White found it, cut left, and put a shot towards the goal that took a deflection and rainbowed up and over the keeper and into the far side of the net.
Kylie Cesarek (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota HS) led the team with six shots while Madi Bajis (Macomb, Mich. / Utica HS) and Douglass had four each, Bajis had a match-high three on target. Douglass had a pair of shots on goal along with Emily Kolodin (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc HS) and Rileigh Garbarz (Pinckney, Mich. / Father Gabriel Richard HS).
The Cardinals controlled the tempo throughout the match, recording 12 shots on goal to Davenport's five while also earning a 12–2 advantage in corner kicks. Lainey Garbarz (Pinckney, Mich. / Father Gabriel Richard HS) made five saves to secure her sixth shutout of the season, and Emily Wolter stopped 11 shots in goal for the Panthers.
Up Next: Saginaw Valley advances to the GLIAC Semifinals, where the Cardinals will face Parkside on Friday, November 14. The final two rounds will be hosted by Grand Valley State if they defeat Roosevelt, otherwise the tournament will be hosted by Parkside.
