PREVIEW: Huskies prepare for final home tilt vs. SVSU

THIS WEEKEND'S GAME

• Michigan Tech will play one game this Sunday (Oct. 31) at noon as they host Saginaw Valley State at Kearly Stadium. 

• The Huskies are 10-5 overall and 7-4 in the GLIAC.

• The Black and Gold will honor their 11 graduating seniors after the game. 

A RECAP OF LAST WEEKEND

• The Huskies fell 5-0 at #1 Grand Valley State on Friday (Oct. 22).

• The Black and Gold rebounded on Sunday (Oct. 24), as they took down #9 Ferris State 1-0 at home. It was the Bulldogs first conference loss this season. Grace Shaw scored for the Huskies while Erik Gabriel got the shutout in goal. 

SCOUTING SAGINAW VALLEY STATE

• The Cardinals (10-2-2 overall, 7-2-1 GLIAC) are currently third in the GLIAC standings.

• They are led by freshman Stephanie Strong (24 points) and senior Amy Babon (17 points). 

• SVSU is coached by Michael O'Neill, who is in his eighth season leading the Cardinals. 

PREVIOUS MEETING

• The Huskies and the Cardinals last faced off earlier this season on September 26, 2021 in Houghton. The Huskies fell 3-0, but held a 17-7 edge in shots.

GABRIEL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Michigan Tech senior goalkeeper Erika Gabriel was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week this past week.

• Gabriel got the start in net for Michigan Tech on Sunday vs. Ferris State and had five saves on her way to her fourth shutout this season. 

• Gabriel paces the GLIAC in save percentage (.895), goals against (2), and goals-against average (0.29). 

• Gabriel was the first Husky to earn GLIAC Player of the Week accolades since goalkeeper Amanda Young in Week 7 of 2018. 

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Grace Shaw leads the team with nine goals and 19 points. 

• Grace Shaw is currently tied for second in the country with six game-winning goals. 

• Freshman Julia Pietila has five goals and 11 points this season. 

• Stephanie Yeager leads the team with six assists.

• Grace Shaw and Jesse Jacobusse each reached the 20 career goal milestone on Sept. 17 against Davenport.

ALL-GLIAC RETURNEES

• The Black and Gold return four all-GLIAC players from last season.

• Fifth year senior Jesse Jacobusse led the Huskies with seven goals and 15 points in the spring season.

• Joining Jacobusse on the attack is senior and co-captain Grace Shaw. Shaw recorded four goals and added five assists in the 2021 spring campaign. She was second on the team with 13 points. 

• Also anchoring the Huskies' lineup are senior Brooke Schauer and junior Neve Badalow. Schauer recorded two goals and five assists (nine points) last season while Badalow assisted on two goals and had a stellar season on the defensive end. 

PRESEASON POLL

• The Huskies were selected to finish fourth in the GLIAC Preseason Poll.

• SVSU was picked to finish fifth. 

• Full GLIAC Preseason Poll

MIDWEST REGIONAL POLL

• The Huskies are currently ranked #9 in the latest regional rankings released by the United Soccer Coaches poll. 

• Saginaw Valley currently ranks #7 in the region. 

• Full Midwest Regional Poll

COACH OZTURK

• Head Coach Bulut Ozturk is in his second season with the Huskies.

• Under Ozturk, the Huskies have gone from a 5-10-1 record in 2019 to a 5-4-1 record last season.

• He led the Huskies to a return to the GLIAC Quarterfinals. 

• During the regular season, Ozturk coached the Huskies to an overtime tie on the road against No. 1 ranked Grand Valley State.

LAST SEASON

• The Huskies finished the 2021 spring season with a 5-4-1 overall record, reaching the GLIAC Quarterfinals.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

• The Black and Gold end the regular season on the road against Purdue Northwest on Friday (Nov. 5) and Northern Michigan (Nov. 7).