UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team continued its heart-pounding ways of late, with a third consecutive overtime win, topping Davenport University Saturday at Braddock Field.
The No. 23 Cardinals and Panthers went over 103 minutes without a goal before a penalty kick was called and Kairo Coore scored his second overtime winner of the season. The 1-0 victory sends SVSU to a record of 5-0-0 overall and in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
With two games remaining on the schedule, SVSU is a full game ahead of the rest of the conference in the standings.
"I told my coaches that there was going to be one moment in this game that would decide it," SVSU Head Coach Louis Barrow said. "Fortunately for us, that moment was a mistake by them. Kairo stepped up to the moment and delivered a brilliant penalty kick."
Both teams had several chances to break the scoreless tie, but the goalkeepers made numerous spectacular saves, including one from Mason Maziasz in overtime to keep the Cardinals alive.
In the 104th minute, SVSU earned a penalty kick as a ball got in behind the defense, forcing the Davenport goalkeeper to come out of his net and make a tackle, causing the referee's whistle and the eventual game-ending penalty kick.
Coore stepped up and deposited the goal in the top right corner, sending SVSU's team into a celebration for the third straight game.
SVSU outshot Davenport 14-11, while both teams were given 11 fouls. Maziasz (5-0-0) made five saves in net for the Cardinals in the win.
"Mason made a couple of amazing one-v-one saves and was absolutely brilliant for us today," Barrow said. "He was completely instrumental in this win today, along with the incredible play of the defense in front of him. His best moments were just as important as scoring a goal."
The Cardinals hit the road for the final time of the regular season to face Purdue Northwest at 1 pm Sunday, April 11 in Hammond, Ind. If the Cardinals come away with a win over the Pride, they will secure the GLIAC regular-season championship outright.