HAMMOND, Ind. – The Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team won its fifth Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season championship with a fourth-straight overtime win, topping Purdue University Northwest Sunday in Hammond, Ind.
The Cardinals controlled the game throughout, not allowing a shot on goal from the Pride the entire game. In the 94th minute, a ball was crossed into the box where Danny Barlow passed it back out to an open Lachlan Hepburn, who ripped a half volley from over 20-yards away into the right side of the net to lift the Cardinals to the 1-0 win.
SVSU remains perfect at 6-0-0 and secures the outright GLIAC regular-season championship with one game left on the schedule. The title is the first for the Cardinals since 2018.
"It's a massive achievement for not just this team, but the entire coaching staff and support staff," SVSU Head Coach Louis Barrow said. "It is a full program that is dedicated to winning and doing it the right way. This championship just brings all the work together."
SVSU outshot PNW 14-5, led by Robbie Bruce with four shots on goal. Hepburn's goal was his lone shot on a strike that Barrow called "brilliant."
"The whole team has bought into the defensive side of the game, giving the whole team the opportunity to go and win the game," Barrow said. "We are comfortable with the guys at the back and that lets us play free."
SVSU goalkeeper Mason Maziasz was not forced to make a save and earned the shutout victory to improve his record to 6-0-0. He has not allowed a goal since early in the second half against Northwood on March 21.
The Cardinals close the regular season against Upper Iowa University at 1 pm Sunday at Braddock Field.