Nov. 9, 2008

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State claimed its second consecutive GLIAC Tournament Title with a 2-0 win over Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, Nov. 9. Ashley Elsass scored two goals and the No. 1 Lakers tied the Division II single-season record for shutouts with their 18th. GVSU will play in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 16.

GVSU (21-0, 14-0 GLIAC) has earned a point in 42 consecutive home matches, which is third in the Division II record book. This was also the Lakers 21st straight win to start the season (8th in Division II history), while they have lost just once in their last 44 matches.

Elsass scored her first goal at the 23:42 mark when she took a through ball from Katy Tafler 40 yards out from the goal. Elsass beat a defender to the ball and went in one-on-one with SVSU keeper Anne Bershbach. She put the ball in the back of the net for her 15th goal of the season and a 1-0 GVSU lead.

Neither team scored in the remainder of the first half, and the second stanza started with a yellow card to SVSU defender Lauren Saigh in the 57th minute following a hard tackle from behind.

In the 78th minute, Elsass scored her 16th goal of the season to add some insurance with a 2-0 GVSU lead. Irie Dennis drove all the way down the right sideline before crossing a ball into the box. Elsass controlled the pass 12 yards out from the goal and placed a shot in the top-right corner of the net to conclude the scoring.

Kristina Nasturzio stopped three shots to record her 13th individual shutout of the season, which ties her for 12th in the DII record books. Bershbach stopped six shots in net for the Cardinals.