MIDLAND, Mich. - In an incredible turn of events, the Davenport men's soccer team staged an improbable comeback playing the final 50 minutes a man down in a 3-1 win at No. 22 Northwood on Friday afternoon in the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals. With the Panthers not eligible for NCAA postseason play as provisional members, this tournament is serving as the team's ultimate goal after finishing fourth in the GLIAC regular season. The team had their backs to the wall down 1-0 at halftime and knowing they were playing with 10 men after freshman Daire O'Riordan was issued two yellow cards in the first 40 minutes.

Zachary Bakos scored off a set piece on a free kick from right wing at 8:17. James Vaughan took the free kick and went to the left post where Connor Cole tapped it to Bakos who finished his fourth goal of the season. The Panthers managed just two shots in the first half and regrouped at halftime.

The Panthers got the break they needed at 69:55 as Brogan Shrimpton showed why he was selected GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year. He took a pass from Cam Cavanagh and weaved through the defense to release a shot from 25 yards that perfectly found the top left corner. The momentum swing continued as 2:28 later it was Stephen Carroll pressing up from his defensive position to score the game-winner. Carroll's fourth of the season was a half-volley effort to the right side of the net from Carson Brinks.

Northwood was then faced with needing to transition into full offensive mode and being shocked by a pair of Panther goals. DU's defense and goalkeeping by senior Aaron Orban kept the Timberwolves stuck at one goal entering the final eight minutes. DU would get behind the NU defense one more time as Nick Keyamo lobbed a long ball to a streaking Shrimpton who dribbled into a breakaway and made a move around the keeper at 82:48 for his 19th goal of the season.

The Timberwolves had a couple corner kicks late, but the Panthers held firm and punched their ticket into the GLIAC Tournament Final on Sunday, Nov. 5 in Midland against No. 24 Saginaw Valley State at noon. The Cardinals are the two-seed and Davenport will be looking for their first win this season against them. SVSU won the previous two meetings in the regular season.

"It was a massive game today playing the home team in front of their home crowd," head coach Chris Hughes said after the win. "Northwood is a well-coached team that won and earned the GLIAC regular season championship. Our hats off to them because our first half was average at best. We also found ourselves being down a man, which could hurt many teams. We chose to manage around the obstacle and found the back of their net three times in the second half. The heart of a champion showed in the second half. I'm proud of our fight and our players of the year stepped up to another level. We will look to recover tomorrow and prep for a tough Saginaw Valley State squad."