Release courtesy of the SVSU Sports Information Department
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The No. 12 ranked Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team kept their historic season alive with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over No. 4 Rockhurst on Friday afternoon (Nov. 16). The win avenges the Cardinals loss to the Hawks in the first round of last seasons tournament.
The Cardinals (16-2-4) gained the early momentum just eight minutes into the match when Zach Myers (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern HS) found the back of the net for his 15th goal of the season on an assist from Robert Short (Goodrich, Mich.). Short connected with Myers on a low crossing pass for the 1-0 edge.
Rockhurst (18-3-2) managed to even the score in the 23rd minute on a goal by Ruben Perez for the equalizer.
The teams entered halftime tied 1-1 on the scoreboard and 7-7 in the shot column.
Neither team would be able to notch the go-ahead goal in the final 45 minutes of regulation, moving the Round of 16 match into a golden goal overtime session.
The game-winning goal for Saginaw Valley came in the 96th minute when Lachlan Savage (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth Salem) fired a ball on net that deflected off the cross bar and narrowly slipped by goalkeeper Ryan Bass. The golden goal was the 10th goal of the season for Savage as he capitalized on a great pass from Robert Short, his second assist of the match and team-leading 11th of the year.
The Cardinals picked up the victory as they outworked the Hawks by a 6-4 margin in the shots on goal category.
Senior goalkeeper Jason Wise (Troy, Mich.) picked up the win in net for SVSU as he made big saves down the stretch and in the overtime session to stave off elimination.
Saginaw Valley advances to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in school history and will play the winner of the Northeastern State vs. Fort Hayes match on Sunday (Nov. 18) at 2:00 PM.
