Leavens Scores Late and Helps Ferris State Soccer to Big Road Win Over Michigan Tech

Houghton, Mich. – Sophomore Natalia Leavens scored her first goal of the year in the closing minutes of Sunday's (Oct. 5) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) game against Michigan Tech as the Ferris State University women's soccer team earned a big 2-1 victory over the Huskies.

The Bulldogs (3-2-4, 3-1-1 GLIAC) got back in the winning column after a loss against Northern Michigan Friday (Oct. 3) and tie the previous weekend against Roosevelt. FSU closed out its weekend trip to the Upper Peninsula with goals from Leavens and Ava Fuller and goalkeeper Korinne Ihrke received the win in a five save performance.

Fuller put the Bulldogs on the board at 31:21 with her first goal of the season. Grace Sampson took a corner kick and placed the ball in the box where Isabella Baron controlled it with a touch to Anna Thelen. Thelen found Fuller for the shot and FSU took a 1-0 lead. Baron collected her second assist of the season and Thelen earned her first career point with an assist.

FSU held its lead into halftime. Through the first 45 minutes, the Bulldogs had six shots on goal and seven corner kicks compared to one of each for Michigan Tech. Ihrke made one save in the half while Baron and Katherine Welch each had two shots on goal.

Michigan Tech tied the game at 63:23 with a goal from Reilly Lovercheck. She got behind the Bulldog defense with a pass from Peyton Wetzel and scored to tie the game at one goal apiece.

Leavens scored the game-winning goal at 86:19, giving FSU a 2-1 lead. She dribbled from midfield all the way into the box and took a left-footed shot into the low corner for her first goal of the season.

FSU held its lead for the final 3:41 and closed out a victory to improve to 3-1-1 in GLIAC play. The Bulldogs finished the game with 10 shots on goal, 10 corner kicks (matching a season high set against Northern Michigan Friday) and 15 fouls. The Huskies had six shots on goal, two corner kicks, 11 fouls and received three yellow cards.

Individually, Baron, Welch, Leavens and Annie Hartley each had two shots on goal. Baron, Lauren McCaul, Ella Wolf and Bella Vallone each played 90 minutes. Ihrke recorded her third victory this season.

Ferris State will return home for a GLIAC contest against Grand Valley State University on Friday (Oct. 10). Game time is set for 1 p.m. (ET) at the Bulldog Soccer Field with live coverage provided on FloCollege.