Oct. 14, 2007

Final Stats

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State University overcame a tremendous performance from Saginaw Valley State goalkeeper Stacy Lalond, and got some quality backstopping of their own, as the #1 Lakers edged the Cardinals 2-1 on Sunday, Oct. 14. Kristina Nasturzio notched three saves for the Lakers, including a key save late in the first half, while Katy Tafler provided the offense, scoring both Laker goals in the win. Grand Valley State University is now 14-0 on the season with a 6-0 conference record.

The Lakers tested Lalond early, with Tafler and Irie Dennis both putting shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of the match, but the Cardinal keeper kept them off the scoreboard. Tafler and Dennis would combine for the first goal of the match at the 15:51 mark, when Dennis played a through ball from the right side. Tafler took the ball at the six-yard box and touched it past Lalond for her 27th goal of the season. Both Tafler and Dennis pressed the attack all match long, finishing with a combined 10 shots, with seven of them going on frame.

The lead did not last very long, as Saginaw Valley scored a goal on their first shot, which came 22:55 into the match. Forward Tammie Edmunds lofted a shot from 25 yards out that came just under the crossbar and over the outstretched hand of Nasturzio to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was just the third that Nasturzio has surrendered all season long.

It looked like the Cardinals were going to take the lead in the 36th minute, when Renee Privette took a shot that look almost exactly like Edmunds'. This time, however, Nasturzio was able to get full extension, and knocked the ball into the crossbar for one of her best saves of the season, keeping the score deadlocked at one. The score would remain that way until halftime. At halftime, the Lakers had outshot the Cardinals 10-2, but both teams benefitted from superior goalkeeping performances.

Grand Valley had their chances at the beginning of the second half, as well. Tafler had a shot that was rejected by Lalond just over 10 minutes in, and in the 65th minute, Meaghan Robinson launched a long shot that bounced off the crossbar, just missing the underside of the bar. In the 67th minute, Erika Pitroff took a pass from Ashley Elsass and came in alone against Lalond. Although Lalond made the initial save, she could not corral the rebound, which went directly to a wide-open Tafler, who buried it to give the Lakers the lead. The goal was her 28th of the season, just five off of the GVSU single-season record of 33, set by Tafler last season.

Saginaw Valley did not go away, and Nasturzio had to make another nice save just 1:26 after the goal, this time turning away Kristen Kemmer. Nasturzio's final save came in the 76th minute, when she turned away Mara Dedomenicis's attempt.

Nasturzio finished the match with three save, while Lalond notched 11. The Lakers outshot the Cardinals 18-5 through 90 minutes. The Lakers are now 14-0 (6-0) on the season, while the Cardinals are 6-4-1 (2-2-1). Grand Valley's next match is on Thursday, Oct. 18 in Tiffin, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.