Upper Iowa was defeated by Saginaw Valley State by a score of 8-2 in today's match. The high scoring match was highlighted by goals from freshman forward Stan Cargill and junior forward Dylan Mientus. Upper Iowa falls to 0-6-0 (0-3-0 in GLIAC play) on the year while Saginaw Valley improves to 4-2-1 (2-1-0).
The majority of the first half was a scoreless battle until Saginaw Valley scored two quick goals to open the match up. Senior midfielder Connor Rutz found the net first for the Cardinals on a penalty kick in the 40th minute. Less than three minutes later, Rutz found sophomore midfielder Alex Galbraith open on a cross who scored from eight yards out, putting Saginaw Valley up 2-0 going into half.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Rutz scored two more goals within five minutes of play. Rutz first scored after storming up field on a breakaway and finding the net deep from 25 yards out. He scored again in the 65th minute off a rebound from junior midfielder Alex Gloshen for his third goal of the game and his fifth on the season putting the Cardinals up 4-0.
Cargill put the Peacocks on board shortly after intercepting a Saginaw Valley goal kick to shorten the deficit down to 4-1.
The Cardinals then tacked on three more quick goals within six minutes of play. The first two came off the foot of Galbraith. Galbraith scored first in the 75th minute when sophomore midfielder Gabriello Calamita found him open in the box, Galbraith was able to score behind the back from six yards out. Gloshen then found Galbaith two minutes later, who scored from 20 yards out for his second goal of the game and his third of the season. Scoring the final goal of the stretch was freshman forward Cairo Koore, assisting him on the play was senior defender Gustavo Bergmann and Gloshen, making it his third assist of the day putting Saginaw Valley up 7-1.
The Peacocks battled back in the 81st minute when freshman forward Colby Fechner found Mientus open on a breakaway who was able to scored from 12 yards out. The goal cut Saginaw Valley's down to 7-2.
Saginaw Valley added one more goal in the 84th minute when Bergmann found the net from 10 yards out, putting the game at its eventual final score of 8-2.
TURNING POINT... Connor Rutz' first goal in the 40th minute broke the silence in the contest and set the tone for the high scoring offensive attack the Cardinals displayed.
PEACOCK OF THE GAME... Stan Cargill scored the Peacocks first goal of the game putting them in a position for a potential comeback. That comeback fell short but great leadership was shown from the freshman forward.
STATS OF THE GAME...
- Today's match is the highest combined scoring match the Peacocks have played thus far this season. The 10 combined goals is over double the amount of the second highest (4 goals scored on 9/6 & 9/8).
- Connor Rutz is the first opponent the Peacocks have faced to score a hat trick this far this season, Rutz was a big part of Saginaw Valley's offense in today's match.
- Despite giving up eight goals, Upper Iowa's goalkeepers recorded more saves than Saginaw Valley, five saves to two.
- Upper Iowa played like sportsmen committing just eight fouls compared to Saginaw Valley's 12, Saginaw Valley was also awarded the only yellow card of the match.
QUOTABLE(S)...
"We've gone toe to toe with a quality team for 40 minutes but then we've been second best the rest of the way in. To collapse like we did is something we need to address and figure out if we want to remain competitive like we were at the start." - Willie McGowan, Head Soccer Coach
"There are still a number of positives to take out of the game with how we moved the ball at times, positions we got ourselves into, and at times defended quite well." - Willie McGowan, Head Soccer Coach
"Ultimately though, the negatives outnumbered the positives and we've been beaten like we were. Dylan and Stan have scored two quality goals so hopefully that encourages us to get more chances and finally start putting more away." - Willie McGowan, Head Soccer Coach
UP NEXT... Upper Iowa will face off against Northwood University on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. in Midland, Mich. Visit UIUPeacocks/Live to follow along via live stats and a webcast.
