Bulldog Soccer Tops Purdue Northwest in Regular Season Finale and Will Host GLIAC Quarterfinals

Postgame Highlights & Interview - Coach Henson 
Postgame Interview - Natalia Leavens 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's soccer squad pulled out a 1-0 win over Purdue Northwest Saturday (Nov. 9) thanks to freshman Natalia Leavens' first career goal, finishing the regular season in fourth place of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) standings and setting up a home game for Ferris State in the GLIAC Quarterfinals.

The Bulldogs (8-6-4, 7-5-2 GLIAC) picked up a big win in their regular season finale, earning three conference points to hop Davenport University for fourth place in the GLIAC standings. FSU will welcome the Panthers to the Bulldog Soccer Field on Tuesday (Nov. 12) for the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament.

Leavens propelled the Bulldogs to victory with her first collegiate goal at 70:41 in Saturday's win over Purdue Northwest. Ferris State had a corner kick opportunity, and Avery Sikorski took a shot off the set piece that was blocked by the Pride defense. The ball went right to Leavens, who buried a strong right-footed shot from the top of the box to give FSU a 1-0 advantage. Her first goal of the year came on Sikorki's second assist.

Morgan Fillion earned her fifth shutout in 12 starts as the Bulldogs' goalkeeper, saving all four of Purdue Northwest's shots in her sixth victory. PNW goalkeeper Meta Fischer made eight saves against nine FSU shots, taking her sixth loss.

Ferris State had six corner kicks in the game, topping Purdue Northwest's four corners. FSU committed 11 fouls and Brinley Bell received a yellow card. PNW had nine fouls with Audrey Driskell getting a yellow card as well.

Individually, three Bulldog players registered two shots on goal – Haley Buckman, Emerson Lukomski and Ava Fuller. Bella Vallone, Ella Wolf and Annie Hartley each played all 90 minutes in the win.

Ferris State will begin postseason play Tuesday (Nov. 12) at the Bulldog Soccer Field against Davenport. The Bulldogs played the Panthers to two ties in the regular season, the first a 1-1 game at home Sept. 29 for Senior Day in Big Rapids. Then, DU and FSU tied 0-0 Oct. 25 in Caledonia. 

Tuesday marks the beginning of the GLIAC Tournament with Ferris State slated as the #4 seed and Davenport the #5 seed.