Oct. 8, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #17 GVSU improved to 12-1 overall and 5-1 in GLIAC play with a 2-0 home win over Ashland (7-6-1, 2-3 GLIAC). The win was the Lakers first against Ashland as the Eagles held a 9-0-1 series record coming into the contest. Defender Emily Berner claimed the game winner with a header at the 17:56 mark. The Lakers will now travel to Illinois and take on Quincy (Oct. 13) and SIU-Edwardsville in a pair of critical Great Lakes Region contests.

The two teams battled throughout the first 15 minutes of the match as neither team produced much of a run. For the rest of the contest the Lakers took control of the action and applied pressure on the Eagle's midfield and back line to claim the 2-0 win. Emily Berner tallied a goal at the 17:56 mark that would eventually be the game winner. The goal came on a perfect cross from defender Katie Ales. The ball was deflected out to Ales after she attempted to put a corner kick into the box, the senior fired another cross back in and Berner stepped in and drove the ball into the back of the net. Neither team would score the final 17 minutes of the opening half as GVSU took a 1-0 lead into the break.

The Lakers continued their pressure in the second half as the ball remained in the Eagles end of the field for the majority of the half. The Lakers made it a 2-0 contest at the 57:10 mark when Shannon Carrier found Katy Tafler in front of the net for Tafler's 50th goal of her career. Carrier was streaking down the far sideline when she spotted the sophomore forward and placed a pass just in front of the Ashland keeper to the foot of Tafler. Tafler becomes just the second player in Laker history to score 50 goals in her career, joining former Laker great Mirela Tutundzic who finished with 75 goals. Sophomore netminder Kristina Nasturzio recorded the win while making one save. GVSU has shutout 10 of its 13 opponents this season and has outscored its opponents by a 66-5 margin.

The Lakers will now travel to Illinois and take on Quincy on Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 pm and SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 pm. Quincy entered the weekend as the top team in the Great Lakes Region while the Lakers were ranked #3.