UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University women's soccer team closed the regular season with a dominant 3–0 win over Purdue Northwest on Friday afternoon at Robert C. Braddock Field.
The Cardinals (10–3–2, 8–2–1 GLIAC) scored twice in the first half and added one more in the second, while recording their ninth shutout of the year.
Madi Bajis (Macomb, Mich. / Utica HS) opened the scoring in the 15th minute, finishing off a pass from Rileigh Garbarz (Pinckney, Mich. / Father Gabriel Richard HS) that was set up by Lauryn Fracassi (Grandville, Mich. / Grandville HS) to make it 1–0. It was Bajis' GLIAC-leading 10th goal of the season. SVSU doubled the lead in the 39th minute when Abby Ellis (Waterford, Mich. / Waterford Mott HS) buried recovered the ball after the PNW keeper knocked down the cross from Emily Kolodin (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc HS). Ellis wasted no time taking the shot from outside the box. She added her second goal in the 79th minute, this time winning the ball away from the sliding keeper and cutting her way into the middle to find the back of the net.
The Cardinals controlled play throughout, outshooting the Pride 15–8 with a 9–4 edge in shots on goal and a 5–4 advantage in corner kicks. SVSU committed eight fouls to Purdue Northwest's five, while Lainey Garbarz (Pinckney, Mich. / Father Gabriel Richard HS) made four saves to secure the clean sheet in goal.
Up Next: Saginaw Valley battles for the top of the GLIAC as they sit two points behind Grand Valley and three ahead of Parkside after the win. The Cardinals host Ferris State on Sunday, November 2 at 1:00 PM for their final home match of the regular season. SVSU heads on the road afterwards to Davenport and Grand Valley.
