UNIVERSITY CENTER — The unbeaten streak was extended as was the scoreless streak on defense, but the Northern Michigan University could only manage a scoreless draw at Saginaw Valley State on Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats have gone unbeaten in their last eight games, which includes a pair of scoreless draws, while the scoreless streak for NMU’s defense is now at five games.

In game time, that’s a streak of 512 minutes, 41 seconds as Sunday’s game went 110 minutes including a pair of 10-minute overtimes. The last goal Northern gave up was on Sept. 15 against Davenport.

Freshman goalkeeper Valentin Kliebe earned the start between the posts and improved his season record to 4-0-2.

He has accounted for 448:27 of the Wildcats’ shutout streak, allowing a GLIAC low of one goal this season and posting a goals against average of 0.17. His .971 save percentage is also the best mark in the conference.

Northern, the No. 21 team in NCAA Division II, now stands at 6-1-2 overall and 3-0-2 in the GLIAC, the only remaining unbeaten team in the league even though the Wildcats are in second place behind Wisconsin-Parkside, which has played one more conference game.

SVSU is third in the GLIAC at 3-1-1 and 5-1-3.

The Cardinals carried the play early, taking a 10-5 shot advantage in the first half, including six shots on goal and six corner kicks. It got worse in the second half as SVSU outshot NMU 8-1.

The Wildcats also stopped eight Saginaw Valley shot attempts in the OTs. NMU’s only second-half shot attempt was by senior forward Sam Popp and the only one in OT was by junior midfielder Callum Olpin.

Sunday marked the end of three straight games on the road for NMU, which now plays four in a row at the NMU Soccer Field starting with a 3:30 p.m. Wednesday game against Northwood.

The Wildcats then host league leader Parkside at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.