UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The No. 1 Grand Valley State Lakers found a late tiebreaker to earn a gritty road win, 3-2, over the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals Friday (Oct. 15) afternoon at Bob Braddock Field. The Lakers improve to 11-0-1 on the season and 7-0-1 in GLIAC play to remain alone in first place in the conference.
 
Trailing by a goal at halftime, the Lakers quickly equalized out of the break. GLIAC goal-leader Greta DeLoach struck a loose ball in the box past the lunging keeper to tie things up less than a minute into the second half. The Lakers took the lead just past the hour mark when Kennedy Bearden drilled the upper 90 from 30 yards out on a setup by Cecilia Steinwascher.
 
With just five minutes remaining, Saginaw was able to serve a cross to the back post and head home the tying goal, making overtime seem imminent. But a free kick from the Lakers own defensive third ignited a rally up the left seem and DeLoach uncorked a shot that was deflected for Taylor Reid to touch home as a game-winner with just over a minute left in regulation. It was Reid's second game-winning goal in as many games.
 
"I'm proud of our determination and fight all the way to the end today. We faced some adversity against a good team in a very tough environment but were able to keep our composure and earn a result," head coach Jim Conlon said.  
 
The Lakers return home to host Northern Michigan this Sunday (Oct. 17) at noon for the 25^th Season Celebration and Alumni Day. It is also Youth Day with kids seventh grade and under getting free admission if wearing a soccer jersey.