Sept. 28, 2011
Box Score | Postgame Interviews
ALLENDALE, Mich. - Despite falling behind, 1-0, early in the first half, the No. 5 Grand Valley State women's soccer team answered back with three straight goals to beat GLIAC rival Ferris State, 3-1, on a chilly Wednesday night at the GVSU Soccer Field.
The win extends the Lakers' unbeaten streak to 25 games, improving their overall record to 7-0-2 on the season and more importantly 6-0 in league play. Ferris State falls to 4-5-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the GLIAC.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the sixth minute when Hillary Braun connected with the ball for the 1-0 lead after the GVSU defense failed to clear a corner kick.
The last time the Lakers trailed at home was on Nov. 8, 2009 against Saginaw Valley in the GLIAC Championship game. SVSU took the lead in the 47th minute, but GVSU answered with a goal just two minutes later and eventually won on a shootout. The same game was the last time the Lakers allowed a goal on their home field.
Grand Valley did not stay down for long though as an unassisted goal from junior Kayla Addison (Southfield, Mich.) at 6:37 evened the score at 1-1. Addison took a shot from the top of the box into the left side of the net, out of goalie Rachel McCollum's reach.
Junior forward Ashley Botts (Beloit, Wisc.) then gave the Lakers the 2-1 lead, tallying her fourth game-winning goal of the season in the 14th minute on a great play up the right side from classmates Alyssa Mira (Livonia, Mich.) and Addison. Botts received the cross from Mira just above the six-yard box, firing it into the left side of the net.
As insurance, junior Maria Brown (Columbus, Ohio) added the third goal and her fourth goal of the season in the 25th minute. A deflected header landed in the perfect spot for Brown to take advantage of the misstep and put the ball into the lower left corner of the net.
For the game, GVSU held a 24-4 edge in shots, while taking nine corners to the Bulldogs' four. Junior Chelsea Parise (Warren, Mich.) was key in providing an extra boost to the defense, but only got one official save on the day. McCollum tallied 13 saves in the loss.
Grand Valley continues conference play on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. against Northwood at the GVSU Soccer Field.
