Box Score SAGINAW, Mich.—Northern Michigan University Men's Soccer (3-8-1, 1-7 GLIAC) fell for the second time in 2017 to a ranked Saginaw Valley State University (8-2-1, 5-1-1) squad, 3-1, Sunday afternoon on the road.
The Wildcats would get on the board first and early just shy of the 23-minute mark in the first half. A header by junior defender Kevin Hoof (Grove, Minnesota) found the corner of the net on a cross from sophomore defender Mirko Nufi (Parma, Italy) It was the first goal of the season for Hoof, Nufi also picked up his first goal. Sophomore midfielder Edgar Astorga (Chicago, Illinois) was also credited with an assist on the goal.
Despite surrendering the lead early, No. 10 SVSU controlled the offense from the start of the contests, finishing the first half with a 7-4 lead in shots plus six corners in the half. The offensive pressure lead to a goal just before the half in the 41st-minute to tie the game at one goal each.
SVSU managed to shut down the Wildcat offense entirely to begin the second half. NMU went the opening 35 minutes of the half without a shot attempt. During that span, the Cardinals took the lead in the 57th-minute on a cross to Michael Hamilton just in front of the goal.
NMU's first shot in the second half came from junior forward Sam Popp (Northville, Michigan) in the 80th-minute. The Wildcats recorded four shots in the final ten minutes, but a third goal by the Cardinals in the 85th secured a 3-1 SVSU victory.
Hoof, Nufi, and Astorga each lead the Wildcats with a pair of shot attempts for the game. In goal, sophomore goalkeeper Filippo Torelli (Parma, Italy) made a pair of saves to bring his season total to 28.
NMU returns home next weekend for a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games, beginning with Davenport University Friday at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Purdue University-Northwest comes to Marquette, Michigan for an afternoon matchup at 3 p.m. The Wildcats fell victim to both teams earlier this season on the road.
