Tech Soccer Completes Weekend Sweep with 2-1 Win Over PNW

HAMMOND, Ind. – The Michigan Tech soccer team completed the weekend sweep on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 victory at Purdue Northwest.

The win was fueled by season-first goals from Alyvia Sanom and Julia Pietila, who had the game-winner.

The Huskies are elevated to 7-2-6 overall and 6-1-4 while the Pride fall to 2-11-2 and 0-10-1. With the win, Michigan Tech is tied with Grand Valley State for second in the conference.

"It wasn't our best collective field performance today, but we managed to get the win," head coach Turk Ozturk said. "PNW has a very talented team and their athleticism and physicality made it very difficult for us at times. We saw a beautiful goal by Alyvia Sanom off a really nice assist by Kiersen Korienek in the first half and another nice goal off a corner scrum by Julia Pietila. 

"I am very pleased with our ability to be competitive and mentally tough even at times of struggle. We look forward to celebrating our two road wins on our trip back home. Then we're back at it tomorrow to prepare for another exciting episode of "Battle of the GLIAC" next weekend."

Michigan Tech controlled early with the first half stats showing the Huskies with advantages in corner kicks (6-1) and shots (5-1).

More impressively, the Huskies lock down defense didn't allow a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. 

The two teams went 15 minutes without either team registering a shot before Molly Bolang placed a shot on goal to open the offensive chances.

Minutes later, Kiersen Korienek found Alyvia Sanom streaking in front of the goalkeeper's box with her defender beat before firing into the back left corner of the goal at 17:43.

The Pride would make things interesting in the second half with a goal of their own less than a minute into the second half.

PNW scored off a cross from the left side of the net that weirdly maneuvered through the keeper's box before Amaris Gonzelas buried the loose ball.

However, the Huskies remained offensively sound in the second half with a 5-2 advantage in shots and 4-1 in corner kicks.

Julia Pietila registered two shots on goal in the second half, including the game-winning goal in the 67th minute to mark her first goal of the season.

In total, Michigan Tech had 10 shots with six on goal compared to the Pride's three. Additionally, the Black & Gold won the corner kick battle 10-2.

VanLangevelde was poised in the net with one save on the day.

Up Next

The Huskies conclude the regular season home stand by welcoming Ferris State and Saginaw Valley State to Kearly Stadium. The Huskies and Bulldogs will face on Friday at 4 p.m. with Tech and SVSU playing at noon on Sunday for Senior Day.