UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Wildcats kicked off its final regular season road trip with a stop in University Center, Michigan, to square off against the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals. The Wildcats would ultimately drop the contest by a score of 2-3.

Noah Johnson scored late in the first half to equalize at 1-1 going into the break, and Cian Tunney scored on a penalty kick in the second half to equalize at two-a-piece. The Cardinals would go on to score in the 82nd minute to give them a 3-2 lead, a result that held up.

The Wildcats drop to 2-9-2 overall and 1-6-1 in the conference, while the Cardinals improve to 4-5-3 overall and 2-3-2 in the GLIAC.

Alex Fatovic had this to say following the match:

"Absolutely gutted for the boys again. After fighting back twice from behind on the road, and with 3 clear chances to equalize at the end, our boys show they will continue to fight no matter what. I'm very proud of their efforts and spirit through this tough season. We must learn our lessons, rest up and get ready for another battle on Sunday vs Davenport."

Cat Nips

• Noah Johnson scored his first career goal, a header that equalized the game at one-a-piece in the dying moments of the first half
• Cian Tunney scored his second goal of the season, tying the game at two's off a penalty kick. Both of Tunney's strikes this year have come from the spot
• Logan Lazar picked up his first assist of his career after he placed a beautiful ball for Johnson
• Jan Hoffmann picked up his second assist of the season, tying for the team lead
• Aside from the keeper, Kalvin Glodz and Finn van den Berg played all 90 minutes
• As a team, the Wildcats outshot the Cardinals by a 14-10 margin, with both teams recording five on target. 
• The Cardinals were awarded with five corners as opposed to the Wildcats two, and each team was whistled once for offsides. 
• Niko Scheibal received a red card, making him ineligible for Sunday's match. Hoffmann received a yellow card, giving him five on the season, and also ineligible for Sunday. 

How It Happened
1st Half
The Wildcats earned the match's first opportunity to strike, as Jaziel Sainz de Vilmorin corralled a ball just outside the 18-yard box. Vilmorin struck the ball beautifully and forced the keeper to make a sprawling save to deflect the attack over the crossbar.

The Cardinals struck first in the 17th minute with Mzo Mthembu just staying onside to sneak behind the Wildcat defense and make a move to break the scoring. 

As the half was coming to a close, goalkeeper Bryce Beckley was tested with a curling strike labeled for the upper ninety. He fully extended his left hand to redirect the ball out of danger.

The 'Cats still had life left as the half was winding down, and got some key contributions from a pair of substitutes. Jan Hoffmann carried the ball over the 50-yard line with some nifty footwork, and he fed Logan Lazar deep down the right side and into the Cardinal end. From just about on the endline, Lazar curled a pass into the goal area and Noah Johnson came out of nowhere to deliver a diving header for a goal, tying the game at one apiece.

The Wildcats outshot the Cardinals 6-3 in the first half, and both teams were awarded with a corner opportunity. Both teams were handed out one yellow card; Jan Hoffmann was the offender for the Wildcats. 

2nd Half
Not two minutes into the half, a Wildcat turnover led to an SVSU counter opportunity. Pressing two-on-one, the attacker made a cross through the box that found his teammate and tapped in an easy goal from in tight.

Just under halfway through the second frame, Beckley was tested once again, this time with a strike from just outside the area. Beckley came off his line to take the angle away and was able to guide the ball out of danger. 

The Wildcats were awarded with a set piece opportunity, coming as a free kick from just outside of the box. Cian Tunney took a run at it and sent a well-struck ball that beat the keeper, but it floated just over the crossbar.

It wasn't long after that the Wildcats press earned another chance, as the 'Cats forced the Cardinals to foul in its own 18-yard box, giving the Wildcats a penalty opportunity in the 74th minute. Tunney once again stepped into position and made no mistake to finish his opportunity to tie the game.

The Cardinals responded with a strike of their own, regaining the lead off a boot from just outside the box in the 82nd minute.

The Wildcats had an excellent chance to respond, as a curling ball landed in the box and Logan Lazar was there to redirect the ball towards goal, but the keeper made a crucial save. The 'Cats earned a corner kick and a curling delivery found Vilmorin, who made a clean strike and forced the keeper to make another outstanding stop.

Despite quality efforts to tue the contest, the Wildcats fell to the Cardinals by a score of 2-3.

Up Next
The Wildcats remain on the road, wrapping up its road trip against the Davenport Panthers on Sunday, October 15, at 3 p.m.