MARQUETTE, Mich. - Scoreless in the final few minutes of play, the NMU women's soccer team broke through with a goal from Angelina Perritano with two minutes remaining, but the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals countered before the final horn as the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Friday in Marquette.

Northern controlled possession for the majority of the contest, getting nine shots on goal to SVSU's four. 

The tie pushes NMU's record to 11-1-4 and 7-1-4 within the GLIAC. SVSU is now 9-3-4 and 6-2-4 in conference bouts. 

How it Happened
Much of the start of the contest was played around midfield, without much breaking one way or the other. The first good look came from the Wildcats in the 13th minute, but a Brooke Pietila free kick was tipped by the goalkeeper just before the line. 

SVSU started to tilt the field in its favor as the opening half progressed, but no quality chances came from it with the back line of the 'Cats looking sturdy. NMU answered with chances in its offensive zone in the winding minutes. Allison Kroll had a look with a header in the box with three minutes on the clock, but the ball bounced into the mitts of the keeper. SVSU punched right back a minute later, but Jillian Thompson was up to the task, as the half ended how it started, scoreless. 

The first corner came a minute into play of the second half and after some bounces, a ball from Kenna Alexander just missed. SVSU had a great look as an attacker leaked behind the defense, but Thompson came out of the net to stop the chance at the top of the box. The Cardinals followed with two corners of their own, but NMU's defensive formation stood tall with nothing coming of it. 

In the 66th minute, Molly Pistorius sidestepped a defender, opening up a chance on the attack. After Sami Brown played a ball back to Madison Bilbia, the shot sailed just north of the crossbar, as zeroes remained on the scoreboard. 

The floodgates opened up in the final two minutes of play. On a Pietila free kick, Molly Pistorius played a header to Angelina Perritano, who buried for the tally, her second on the campaign.  Unfortunately for the Wildcats, SVSU answered with less than a minute left in play, as Solana Kelly found the back of the net, ending the match in a 1-1 draw. 

Up Next
The Wildcats return to the pitch on Sunday, with a matchup with the Ferris State Bulldogs upcoming. The first kick will take place at 1 p.m.