Oct. 18, 2007

Final Stats

Tiffin, Ohio - Grand Valley State University survived its first major scare of the season on Thursday, coming back to beat Tiffin University in overtime, 2-1. The #1 Lakers had not trailed through 14 games before the Dragons scored first in the second half. Sue Christenson tied the game with nine minutes remaining and Ashley Elsass provided the game-winner in overtime to lift GVSU to 15-0 (6-0) on the season.

During the first half, neither team got into an offensive rhythm, as both teams put just two shots on goal. Kristina Nasturzio stopped both shots for the Lakers and finished the night with four saves on five shots. Abby Grieser, Tiffin's goalkeeper, recorded two saves in the first half before turning in a stellar second half with 11 saves. The game marks the second in a row that the opposing goalkeeper has had double-digit saves against the Lakers.

In the second half, Grand Valley State found themselves trailing for the first time all season when Emily Goldsberry took a pass from Niquita Amirkhanian and beat Nasturzio to put Tiffin up 1-0. Nasturzio has given up a goal in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Goldsberry scored her goal with just 24 minutes remaining in the match.

The Lakers continued to push the attack, but Grieser was up to the task, notching seven saves in the second period. GVSU was finally able to break through with just nine minutes remaining, when Christenson scored her third goal of the season to tie the match at one. Christenson headed in the goal off of a corner kick by Kristen Eible. The goal pushed the match into overtime, the first overtime match for the Lakers this season.

GVSU controlled the extra time, notching three shots on goal while the Dragons did not manage one. And in the 98th minute, Elsass got her fifth game-winning goal of the season, her 12th overall, to keep the Lakers undefeated this season. Emily Berner assisted on the goal.

Grand Valley State is now 15-0 (6-0) on the season, while Tiffin falls to 10-6. The Lakers have won 15 matches in a row, dating back to last season's National Championship. Their next match is Sunday, Oct. 21 against Northern Michigan, with kickoff scheduled for 12 noon. The Lakers have just two regular season games remaining.