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Purdue Northwest
September 27, 2024 | 1:00 PM
Friday, September 27, 1pm
Purdue Northwest
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HOUGHTON, Mich. — The Michigan Tech football team led 1-0 early in the first half but couldn’t beat nationally ranked Grand Valley State University’s goal in the second half, losing 2-1 at Curley Stadium on Sunday.
Michigan Tech (3-2-0, 1-1 GLIAC) scored its first goal in 11 seasons in a home game against Grand Valley State (5-0-1, 2-0 GLIAC). Senior forward Julia Pietila scored the Huskies’ lone goal, her third of the weekend.
“It was a tough game against the No. 1 team in the country. It’s unfortunate that we conceded a goal early in the second half, but overall we played a great game,” Tech coach Melissa Kuhar said. “I told our team to pick up the pace, hang in there after we scored early and had a lot of chances to score. We didn’t play well in the second half and that’s why we lost. It was similar to how we started the second half against Northwood earlier this week. Julia is working hard and we need her to score. She’s the one in charge. We need to find other scorers, but we can’t rely on Julia to score alone.”
The Lakers had two shots in the first eight minutes of the game, but the Huskies scored in the 12th minute. GVSU failed to clear the ball in the midfield, and Taylor Noble chased the loose ball just outside the box, took one touch to the right and sent a diving shot to Julia Pietila, who was free deep inside the six-meter line. Pietila beat IUPUI transfer Kaylin Janke and fired a shot into the top right corner of the goal to make it 1-0 early in the game.
Over the next few minutes, Pietila and GVSU’s Ali French traded shots that were saved by both goalkeepers, and Kennedy Bearden tied the score in the 36th minute when Tech’s goalkeeper simply smashed a low shot to the right of the goal after receiving a pass from Emma Chudyk.
Abby Wynn nearly gave the Lakers a one-point lead just before halftime, but Bri Burrows made a diving catch in the scramble to block Wynn’s far-side shot in the 40th minute.
The No. 1 team in the country took its first lead of the day just 20 seconds into the second half on a cross from Taylor Reed that was initially stopped by the Huskies defense, but a loose ball deep in the goalkeeper’s box was deflected by Bearden just beyond Burrows’ reach.
Over the next few minutes, Pietila had two chances to shoot deep in GVSU’s half, but the Lakers goalkeeper made a great kick save to deny him a low shot into the left corner of the goal. Winrich had a chance to tie the game in the 54th minute with a clean shot, but it went wide.
Burrows got the big play for the Huskies in the 60th minute when the Lakers converted a nearly perfect corner kick and Casey Lauer’s header hit the glove of the Tech goalkeeper.
Pietila had three more quality shots on the Lakers’ goal, but Janke made two key saves, although the third shot was deflected wide of the goal.
Bri Burrows made four saves for the Black and Gold, while Pietila and Riley Winrich recorded four and two shots, respectively.
Kennedy Bearden led the Lakers’ attack with two goals, while goaltender Kaylin Janke made five saves.
Next
The Huskies will take on their first GLIAC trip of the season, taking on Purdue Northwest on Friday at 1pm, before facing first-year GLIAC partner school Roosevelt on Sunday in a game scheduled to start at 1pm.
