Michigan Tech midfielder Peyton Wetzel battles for a ball with a Saginaw Valley defender during a game Friday at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies soccer team put together a strong final 10 minutes with a goal by Reilly Lovercheck, making it a one-goal game. However, the Huskies were unable to find another goal, falling to Saginaw Valley State 2-1 at Kearly Stadium on Friday night.

“It was hard fought all the way til the end-we got one goal, but when we’re behind and chasing it’s tough,” said Huskies coach Melissa Kuhar. “We got a lot more attack, which is nice, but we’ve got to put the final pieces together. We switched formations to try and create more and we created chances and that’s where the tempo changed as well.”

Michigan Tech (1-7-1, 1-3-1 GLIAC) won the corner kick battle (6-3). However, Saginaw Valley State (4-3-1, 2-2-0 GLIAC) held an 18-11 shot advantage, with 11 shots on goal. The 11 shots by the Huskies were one short of tying the season-high at Roosevelt, with the six shots on goal against the Cardinals tying the season-high.

The Cardinals struck first in the 14th minute with a goal by Brie Clasen, reaching the back of the net from outside of the box, finding the top left corner of the goal.

Saginaw Valley outshot Michigan Tech 7-3 in the first period following the goal, but the defensive play by both teams kept the score at 1-0 through 45 minutes of action.

The Cardinals struck again early in the second half when Clasen advanced the ball from midfield to a streaking Lauren Fracassi with just the Huskies’ keeper to beat, burying a shot into the middle of the net for a two-score lead in the 49th minute.

The Huskies did not waver and got on the board late in the match with Lovercheck taking advantage of a 2-on-1 with Peyton Wetzel firing a shot at the goal past Lainey Garbarz to make it a one-goal affair.

Michigan Tech accrued four shots – two on goal and a corner kick in the final five minutes, but could not find the game-tying goal with the Cardinals escaping Houghton with a 2-1 decision.

Lovercheck had a team-leading two shots on goal, while Ryley Winrich and Allison Millina took three shots apiece with one shot on goal, respectively.

Emily Kolodin and Brie Clasen led the Cardinals with two shots on goal.

Barrows recorded seven saves, facing 18 shots as the Cardinals’ Garbarz made five stops.