allendale, michigan – The Michigan Tech women’s soccer team couldn’t pull off an upset Sunday afternoon in the 7th Grand Valley State with a 1-0 loss in Allendale, Michigan.
“We all had a game plan that we had to stick to as a team,” said coach Burt Ozturk. “I think we did a great job today defensively. On the flip side, we had some chances that we didn’t capitalize on. But we continue to look for solutions on the attacking side.”
“We will go home to regroup and prepare for our rivalry match against NMU next week.”
Michigan Tech (3-5-2, 1-3-2 GLIAC) scored a total of 6 shots defensively against Grand Valley State (7-1-2, 5-0-1 GLIAC)’s 17 shots. did.
Taylor Reed scored his sixth goal of the season in a 51st-minute game-winner, coming off a Kennedy Metzger cross that allowed Reed to find the back of the net in front of goal.
The contest is a tale of two halves, with rain and wind making it difficult for both teams to create attacks.
Senior goalkeeper Gracie Vanlangevelde made five stops in the first half and had a season-high eight saves. Help from the Huskies backline made most of the saves for the Spring Lake native, recovering fairly easily.
Offensively, MTU had a chance in the 28th minute when Julia Pietilä advanced the ball to Alicia Schatlau in the box, but the Lakers defense was able to split the play.
A few minutes later, after the Lakers gave up the ball in the zone, Stephanie Yeager got a chance at the net and Yeager fired a shot from about 20 yards out and met the goalkeeper in front of the left goalpost.
The Huskies put up a great defensive effort before Kennedy Bearden evaded Van Langevelde on the left side of the net and was picked up by the Michigan Tech keeper.
Despite the field being wet from the rain early in the game, the weather was milder in the second half of the game.
Better conditions made offensive opportunities more available. The Lakers took an early offensive advantage in the second when Taylor Reed found the back of the net from teammate Kennedy Metzger’s cross.
A one-goal deficit set the Huskies on fire, with Kielsen Korieneck winning the ball from the Lakers’ rasp in midfield, and Korieneck getting swallowed by goalkeeper Kendall Robertson and firing into the bottom left goal.
Arivia Sanom played several minutes in the ladder stages of the match, along with Makena Sanom and Mia van der Heide, but the Huskies were unable to find the back of the net.
Senior Neve Badarou made two saves for Black & Gold in the game, blocking two shots in front of the net.
Grand Valley State, ranked No. 7 in the nation, was leading 9-3 in corner kicks.
The Huskies travel 100 miles down the US 41 to face No. 23 Northern Michigan on Friday. Start time is 7pm.