Saginaw Valley gets 1-0 win at Marygrove

Saginaw Valley's shutout streak continues

DETROIT – Marygrove hosted the NCAA Division II's 4th-ranked Saginaw Valley State University in their season opener Sunday, and just one goal determined the match.

Head coach Matt Johnson's team -- particularly his defense lead by freshman defender No. 22 Andriy Pelekh and sophomore goalie Ryan Plonka -- held strong to keep SVSU to that one goal while the offense tallied 13 shots in the match with 5 of those on goal. Saginaw Valley had just 9 shots but also 5 on goal.

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Seconds before halftime, a loose ball in front of Plonka's net found SVSU senior midfielder No. 6 Philip Strachan's foot. He slotted it into the net and notched his first career goal with this team.

It was not the first attempt by the squad. In the 31st minute, No. 18 Aleksander Isaevski took a shot and tested Marygrove's defense to no avail.

Marygrove continued to stay strong in the second half determined to get a goal of their own, including one last attempt toward the end of the game which was secured with a leaping save by SVSU freshman goalkeeper Alexandre Bouillennec.

The Saginaw Valley defense has continued to make their presence known in each of the four games this season as they have not allowed a goal. The impressive shutout streak continues.

Coach Cale Wassermann's squad will be tested again this weekend as they travel for two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) matchups -- one against Walsh at 7 p.m. Sept 19 and another against Malone at 1 p.m. on Sept. 21.

Marygrove take their 0-5-0 record on the road to Elgin, Ill. where they play Judson College at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the hopes of securing their first win of the season.

View: Marygrove College men's soccer schedule

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