Nov. 3, 2006
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Allendale, Mich. -
The Grand Valley State women's soccer team claimed a 2-1 NCAA Tournament opening round win over Quincy Friday afternoon in Allendale, Mich. Sophomores Katy Tafler and Ashley Elsass recorded goals for the Lakers in the victory. GVSU will take on Indianapolis on Sunday, November 5 at 1 pm in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Final.
Sophomore forward Katy Tafler continued her assault on the net this season with the opening goal at the 16:26 mark on an assist from senior Shannon Carrier. The goal was Tafler's 31st of the season as she has now scored in 16 of 18 matches. Ashley Elsass made it a 2-0 contest in the 27th minute after a pair of perfect passes from Erica Rose and Katie Johnson. Elsass finished the job from 15 yards out for her third goal of the year. The Lakers and Lady Hawks would enter the break with the score at 2-0 in favor of the Lakers. Quincy opened the second half with a charge putting the Lakers on their heels but were unable to score on sophomore netminder Kristina Nasturzio.
"It's hard to play a team a second time and we did not capitalize on some opportunities in the first half and at the beginning of the second," GVSU head coach Dave DiIanni commented. "Our backline played well this afternoon and stopped their charge in the second half."
Each team had a number of chances in the second half with Quincy being the only team to tally a goal. Lady Hawk Kim Koenig cut the Laker lead to one when she scored with less than nine minutes to go in the contest. Koenig received a pass from Rachel Poepsel after a turnover by the Laker backline. GVSU held off a final push by Quincy to claim the 2-1 victory and advance to the Great Lakes Regional final.
"We had some chances to bury the game and we were unable to score, they are a good team and anytime you win in the postseason you have to take it," DiIanni added.
GVSU and Indianapolis will square off in the Great Lakes Regional Final on Sunday, November 5 at 1 pm at the Laker Soccer Field in Allendale, Mich.
