Oct. 24, 2008

Box Score

Midland, Mich. - Kayla Klosterman scored her first goal as a Laker and Ashley Elsass added another two as Grand Valley State blanked Northwood 4-0 on Friday. The No. 1 Lakers held a 12-3 advantage in shots on goal in a rainy day in Midland, Mich. GVSU (17-0, 12-0 GLIAC) takes on Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 12 noon in its final road match of the regular season.

Grand Valley State is ranked No. 1 in the NSCAA/adidas national poll and has won 25 consecutive conference matches (4th all-time in Division II) dating back to Sept. 29, 2006. GVSU has also earned a point in 39 consecutive home matches, dating back to Sept. 4, 2005 (5th all-time in Division II).

Elsass started the scoring at the 18:03 mark when she made a long run up the left side and took a pass from Katy Tafler. She finished by beating Northwood goalie Emily Pierce for her 11th goal of the season and a 1-0 GVSU lead. Pierce finished the match with eight saves in the losing effort, while Kristina Nasturzio made three saves to blank the Timberwolves. It was Nasturzio's 11th shutout of the season and the team's 15th in 17 matches.

At 24:58 of the first half, Elsass got on the board again. Elsass took a shot that Pierce saved, but the NU keeper could not corral the rebound. Tafler took the ball and fired a shot off the post. The ball went back to Elsass, who put it away on the Lakers' third try to put GVSU ahead 2-0.

GVSU scored one more time before the end of the half when Klosterman scored her first career goal at the 36:44 mark. Tafler played a ball to Klosterman through the center of the field and the freshman midfielder put it in the back of the net for the third goal of the match.

Kristen Eible concluded the scoring with a header off a set piece 4:37. Elsass took a free kick that Eible got a head on to put GVSU up 4-0. The Lakers held onto that lead to win their 17th match of the season and remain undefeated.