Sept. 19, 2008

Box Score

Marquette, Mich. - Ashley Elsass scored the lone marker in a 1-0 win over Northern Michigan on Sept. 19 to keep Grand Valley State perfect during the 2008 season. The No. 1 Lakers (7-0, 2-0 GLIAC) blanked the Wildcats for their sixth shutout of the season. Kristina Nasturzio made two saves for her fifth individual shutout. GVSU returns home for their next match, Sept. 21 against Ashland at 12 p.m.

Katy Tafler started the match with two shots in the first 3:09. Her first shot was wide, but her second shot was a header that forced NMU keeper Kara Music to make the save. The shots set the tone for the match, as GVSU outshot the 'Cats by an 11-4 margin. Music made seven saves during the match, as the Lakers put eight of their shots on frame. Nasturzio notched both of her saves in the first half. Nasturzio's first save came in the 16th minute on a shot by Kaelah Mizzi. In the 33rd minute, Casey Wilcox placed a shot of the crossbar. Nasturzio made another save in the 41st minute to send the game into halftime tied at 0-0.

Tafler and Elsass both put shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half and both were saved by Music. Tafler finished the match with a game-high four shots on goal, while Elsass recorded three. The two combined to put GVSU ahead 1-0 at the 59:44 mark when Tafler found Elsass with a through ball. After making a run through the backline, Elsass received Tafler's pass and buried it behind Music for her fourth goal of the season. The assist was Tafler's third, which ties her with Irie Dennis for the team lead.

The Lakers kept the pressure on, and in a span of 2:04 starting in the 71st minute, Tafler and Elsass combined to put another three shots on goal. The Laker defense held the Wildcats without a shot through the entire second period to hold onto the 1-0 lead and claim their seventh straight win. GVSU has won 15 straight GLIAC matches and 26 straight regular season matches.