Big First Half Leads Host SVSU Over Bulldogs In Non-League Soccer Action

Big Rapids, Mich. - Host Saginaw Valley State scored three times in the first half and held off the Ferris State University women's soccer squad the rest of the way in a 3-0 decision on Sunday (Sept. 18) at University Center, Mich.

The Cardinals won for the sixth time in seven contests this campaign after scoring twice in the intial 12:19 of the contest as FSU dropped to 2-4 overall. The tilt was a non-league contest between the two longtime Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) foes, who will meet later this year in league action.

Saginaw Valley State jumped on the board first when Mallory Hestwood tallied her first goal of the year in unassisted fashion at 7:53 of the first half.

The Cardinals added another goal less than five minutes later as Shelby Watts recorded an unassisted goal in the 12th minute, giving SVSU a 2-0 lead.

The SVSU advantage grew to 3-0 in the 42nd minute of the first period when Sakura Bals scored her second marker of the year off an assist from Molly Vanderhoff.

Overall, the Cardinals held a 10-5 edge in total shots for the day with six in the first period and four more in the second. FSU had three shots in half one followed by two in the final 45 minutes of competition. SVSU also earned three of the four corner kick chances in the outing.

SVSU's Claire Spleth picked up her sixth win this season in goal with two saves in 90 minutes of work. On the Ferris State side, freshman Grace Kraft suffered her first loss while playing the entire first half. Nyla Peterkin came on for a scoreless second half and both FSU goalkeepers finished with two saves apiece.

The Bulldogs will open GLIAC play on the road in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Friday (Sept. 23) as FSU squares off against Michigan Tech under the lights at Sherman Field in Houghton. The contest is slated for a 7 p.m. (ET) start.

Ferris State then visits Northern Michigan next Sunday (Sept. 25) for a 1 p.m. (ET) league tilt in Marquette.