(NORTH CANTON, Ohio) – In a battle that featured a pair of undefeated teams, one of which is the No. 2 team in the nation, and both GLIAC weekly award winners, Friday night's game easily lived up to a hyped billing. Walsh's Offensive Player of the Week Sam Mountstephens scored a hat trick on No. 2 Saginaw Valley Defensive Player of the Week goalkeeper Alex Bouillennec, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals (4-0-1, 1-0-1) defeated the Cavaliers (3-1, 1-1) 4-3 in extra time.

Saginaw Valley never led until a goal by Griffin Parks ended the game 27 seconds into overtime. It was his second goal of the game and season as the first tied the game at 3-3 with 9:30 left in regulation.

The story for the Cavaliers was the incredible play by Sam Mountstephens. His hat trick gives him a conference-best seven goals on the season. The first came just 2:01 into the game as he took an assist from Evan Heiss who dribbled deep into the Saginaw Valley defense before passing off on the left side of the 6-yard box.

The lead held until Jordan Kalk took a pass from Aleksander Isaevski up the middle and tied it up at 1-1 in the 27th minute. The score remained the same for the rest of the half.

Similar to the first half, Mountstephens put Walsh up again with a goal early in the second half. After the ball was deflected from the middle of the field deep into the Cardinals' defense, Mountstephens found himself with a one-on-one opportunity and once again beat Bouillennec in the 53rd minute unassisted.

Saginaw Valley then caught a break as a hand ball in the box was called against the Cavs 10 minutes later. Craig Neal was given the penalty kick opportunity and while Ayman Youssef guessed the correct side, the ball still slipped by to tie the game at 2-2.

Mountstephens then put Walsh up once again on another unassisted goal. With another misplayed ball by the Saginaw Valley defense, Mountstephens was able to get a piece of the ball and knock it towards Bouillennec. The Cardinals' keeper couldn't keep control of it, however, and Mountstephens was able to regain control and pick himself off the ground to get another touch on the ball and softly roll it into the back of the net.

It was the first goals that Bouillennec and the Cardinals have given up all year. He ended up with two saves on 10 shots faced. Youssef made four saves on 17 shots faced.

The Cavaliers will now attempt to regroup as they prepare for Northwood on Sunday. The game will be the back end of a doubleheader as the women take on Malone. The men are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kick-off.