Sept. 25, 2007

Final Stats

Allendale, Mich. - Katy Tafler either scored or assisted on all of Grand Valley State University's goals as the #1 Lakers defeated St. Joe's College 3-1 on Tuesday. The Lakers are now 8-0 on the season and will take that undefeated record into a match against Findlay on Friday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m

Tafler put the game-winner in the back of the net to record her 11th goal of the season and assisted on goals by Kourtney Willert and Kristen Eible en route to the 3-1 victory. Willert's goal was her first of the season. Entering the game, Tafler was ranked third in the nation in both points per game (3.57) and goals per game (1.429).

The Lakers found the back of the net early, tallying their first goal in the eighth minute of the match. Katie Johnson took a corner kick from the right side, which Tafler one-touched to a charging Willert. Willert buried the shot from about six yards out to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead.

The lead didn't last very long, as SJC's Branda Lamb scored a goal of her own just 1:59 later, at the 9:55 mark. Ashley Van Slooten play a cross to the center of the field from the left wing. GVSU goalkeeper Kristina Nasturzio came out to play the cross, but mishandled it and directed it right to Lamb, who made the chance count. The goal was just the second of the year against Nasturzio and the third of the year against the Lakers.

The third goal of the first half came with the clock reading 16:27. Ashley Elsass charged up the left side of the field and centered the ball to a wide open Irie Dennis. Dennis's shot rang off the crossbar and went straight to Tafler, who put it in the net for her 11th goal of the year and gave GVSU a 2-1 lead. Neither team was able to score after that and went into half with the score 2-1. At the half, GVSU was outshooting the Pumas 11-4. Grand Valley had five shots on goal at the half, while St. Joe's had three.

After the half, it took Grand Valley 6:13 to score again. Tafler played a through ball past the Puma defense to a streaking Eible. Eible charged in one-on-one with SJC keeper Sarah Croskrey and beat her to the right side to make the score 3-1. The score would stay that way for the remainder of the match, although the Lakers pressured the Pumas for the majority of the half. Dennis had one shot go off the post, denying her a goal. Eible was also robbed of her second goal when Croskrey grabbed a ball right off of her feet in a one-on-one situation.

Grand Valley's next match is on Friday, Sept. 28 in Findlay, Ohio. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.