Goals by Yeager and Pietila Lift Tech Soccer to Win Against Davenport
HOUGHTON, Mich. – An offensive uproar from the Michigan Tech soccer team was no match for visiting Davenport as the Huskies down the Panthers, 2-0 at Kearly Stadium, on Sunday afternoon.
The Black and Gold move to 4-6-3 on the season with a GLIAC ledger of 2-4-3 while the DU falls to 3-6-4 and 2-4-3 in the conference standings.
"When we start to press collectively and aggressively we can keep the ball higher up the field and that gives us more goal-scoring opportunities," head coach Bulut Ozturk said. "It's always great to get another shutout and we take a lot of pride in that. We're right back in the hunt and we're still fighting and there is a lot more work to do. We'll get back to work on Tuesday and get ready for two more home matches."
The Huskies were aggressive offensively to start the game and never looked back, tallying 20 shots, and landing 12 on target, highlighted by goals from senior Stephanie Yeager and sophomore Julia Pietila.
Yeager's goal came in the 29th minute coming off a free kick set well into the Panthers' box. Cassie Bonifas passed the ball back to Yeager who fired a shot from the left side of the net, pinballing through Davenport defenders before finding the low left corner of the net.
The Huskies amassed 10 shots with five landing on target through the first half, while also holding an advantage in corner kicks, garnering three.
Matching those numbers in the second half, MTU posted another 45 minutes of 10 shots fired, again having five on the net, to go with an additional three corner kicks.
Pietila, concluding the match with six shots on goal, tying her game-high this season tallied three shots on net with multiple chances before finally finding the back of the net in the 78th minute.
Following a free kick from Bonifas, Pietila was in the right place and the right time being feet from the net on the left side, connecting with the ball mid-air with her right foot, passing the Panthers goalkeeper and finding the left corner of the net to put the nail in the coffin and give the Huskies a 2-0 with less than 12 minutes remaining.
The goal marked the first of the season for the Hartland, Michigan native.
Defensively, the Huskies' backline was sound, helping senior goalkeeper Gracie VanLangevelde earn her sixth shutout of the year, making five saves.
The Huskies complete the four-game homestand next week hosting Parkside Friday (Oct. 14) at 7 p.m. and Purdue Northwest Sunday (Oct. 16) at noon.
