The Ashland University men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 road decision to No. 13 Saginaw Valley State in GLIAC play on Friday (Sept. 29) afternoon in Saginaw, Mich.
The Cardinals (6-1-1, 3-0-1 GLIAC) scored the lone goal of the game in the 14th minute when Michael Shaikly took a long pass from Pablo Ortiz, touched it up to himself and volleyed a shot past AU keeper Dimitrius Karousos.
That would be the only time the Cardinals – the reigning GLIAC regular season champions – were able to solve the Eagles' defense and Karousos, who made seven saves in the game.
"We did as much as we could to get something from the game," said AU head coach Oliver Slawson. "I thought our kids played really well."
Last season, in the same fixture at SVSU the Cardinals triumphed by a 6-0 tally.
Ashland had chances going forward with five shots and winning five corner kicks, but were not able to get the equalizer.
"We just couldn't get the final pass to produce a goal," Slawson said. "I'm not happy that we didn't get the result, but I thought we played well in the areas where the game was played, especially in the second half."
Freshman Kieran Paterson, playing in his first collegiate game, led Ashland with three shots.
The Eagles will look to get a win on Sunday (Oct. 1) afternoon when it travels to Northern Michigan for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Wildcats.
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