Oct. 21, 2012
Box Score
ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Grand Valley State soccer team took a 2-0 lead into the half and then added six goals in the second half for an 8-0 win against Northern Michigan on Senior Day on Sunday afternoon at the GVSU Soccer Field.
The win improves GVSU's record to 13-1-2 overall and 9-1-1 in GLIAC play while also extending its home-unbeaten streak to 46 games. Northern Michigan falls to 3-11 on the year and 2-9 in conference play.
Freshman Casey McMillan (Byron Center, Mich.) tallied her first career hat trick with three second-half goals. Senior Ashley Botts (Beloit, Wisc.) found the back of the net twice on her six shots.
Opening the scoring, Botts notched the game-winning tally at the 15:04 mark. The Wildcat keeper came out of the net to stop a shot, but could not gain control of the ball and Botts was able to corral the ball to send it past the defender on the line for the 1-0 advantage.
Sophomore Cassandra Wiltshire scored in the 38th minute for the 2-0 lead. She made a move around a defender just outside the six-yard box and sent home her third goal of the season.
In the second half, sophomore Charlie Socia (Portage, Mich.) tipped in a ball off a header from senior Alyssa Mira (Livonia, Mich.) for the 3-0 lead. Senior Erin Hilbert (Ada, Mich.) hit a nice corner kick from the left side that found Mira in the middle of box. The ball then hit Socia's right foot as she sent it past NMU keeper Shelby Conrad for her fourth goal of the year.
Just under 10 minutes later, Botts connected with senior Kayla Addison from the right side of the goal box for the fourth goal of the game and Addison's ninth of the season. Botts then scored her second goal of the contest in the 64th minute off a pass from Hilbert for a 5-0 lead.
McMillan tallied her three goals in the last 20 minutes to total six season goals. Her first goal was a long ball from outside the 18 from senior Molly Streeter (Mississauga, Ontario) in the 71st minute. Junior Kelsey Fiscus (Novi, Mich.) then found McMillan for her second goal from the top of the box to the right side of the net. McMillan hit the final goal of the game in the 85th minute on a one-on-one with the keeper as she beat her to slide the ball into the middle of the net.
The Lakers held a commanding 31-2 shot advantage including an 18-2 edge on target. Senior keeper Chelsea Parise (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and junior Abbey Miller (Saginaw, Mich.) split time in the net with each notching one save. Conrad picked up nine saves in the loss.
Grand Valley State closes out its season with a road trip to Ohio to face Lake Erie on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. before taking on GLIAC-newcomer, Notre Dame College on Sunday at noon.
