Bulldogs score in 87th minute
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Junior midfielder Reilly Lovercheck scored her second goal of the weekend to tie Ferris State 1-1 in the 61st minute, but a late goal from the Bulldogs in the 87th minute would decide the match at 2-1 at Kearly Stadium on Sunday.
“We’ve got to put a full game together–we didn’t have a clean first half and we kind of dug ourselves a hole,” said Tech head coach Melissa Kuhar. “In the second half, we had chances and we’ve got to be able to put some of those away.”
The two teams battled much of the first half with six shots and five corner kicks coming from the Bulldogs in the opening 25 minutes, although the Huskies’ defense kept the scoring chances at bay.
Ferris State (3-2-4, 3-1-1 GLIAC) struck first with a goal scored by Ava Fuller in the 31st minute, set up from a corner kick with a congested box navigated by Fuller, sneaking the ball past Barrows for the first-half lead.
Michigan Tech (1-8-1, 1-4-1 GLIAC) endured seven corner kicks and eight shots, with six on goal through the first 45 minutes as the Black & Gold produced two shots with one on goal by Sophie Rater.
The Huskies didn’t back down in the second half and once again saw offense created by Peyton Wetzel and Lovercheck for the game-tying goal in the 64th minute. Wetzel advanced the ball to Lovercheck from midfield with help from the Bulldogs defender failing to clear with a header, allowing the Pendleton, Oregon, native to bury a shot low and to the right of the Bulldogs defender.
Michigan Tech fought to find the go-ahead goal, but ultimately the Bulldogs prevailed with a score in the 87th minute from Natalia Leavens slipping through the Black & Gold’s back line and goalkeeper Bri Barrows for the game-winning goal in a 2-1 decision.
Barrows made four stops facing eight shots.
Isabella Baron and Katherine Welch each accounted for a team-high two shots on goal as goalkeeper Korinne Ihrke made one save, facing two shots.
Up Next
The Huskies begin a four-game road stand next week, facing Northern Michigan on Sunday at 3 p.m.
