ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Roosevelt closed out its season Saturday morning with a 2-0 setback against Saginaw Valley State at Morris Field.
The two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes were quite even for most of the first half, and the Lakers even had the better of the possession for large chunks of the opening 45 minutes. Roosevelt and Saginaw Valley State tied for eight shot attempts each in the first half with the Lakers putting five of those attempts on target.
However, the Cardinals scored late in the first half to take the lead into the intermission. Saginaw Valley State were in control of the second half and added a second goal early in the period.
Kaylee Sarnicola made a pair of diving stops to keep the Lakers (1-13-4, 1-11-2 GLIAC) in the game. The freshman finished with 11 saves in the match to end the year on 159 saves and a school-record .791 save percentage. The 159 stops rank second-most in a season in program history as Sarnicola played all but 11:35 of Roosevelt's season.
Daisy Garcia put both of her shot attempts on target for Roosevelt and Aaliyah Xiomara Leanos added three attempts as well. Ellie Bielenda and Celine Blomer created havoc for the Lakers in the attacking half, dribbling the ball deep into good positions along the wing.
Saturday was also the final game in a Lakers uniform for several stalwarts of the women's soccer program. Four-year contributors Mackenzie Alvarez and Peyton Connelly held down the fort on the backline for the Lakers for much of the season. At forward, Kyra Cruickshank battled in her final appearance for Roosevelt, playing 15 minutes with the same passion she exhibited for four seasons before exiting the contest due to injury. Â
