Live Stats (Indianapolis/Malone) | Match Notes

There's no place like home. The old cliché, coined in The Wizard of Oz, one of the most renowned films to ever grace the silver screen, certainly rings true for the Grand Valley State women's soccer team.
 
The No. 3 Lakers, who moved up one spot in this week's NSCAA/Continental Tire Rankings, are bringing their high-octane offense back to Allendale for the first time since the season's opening weekend. After trips to Mankato, Minnesota, Big Rapids, Michigan and northern Ohio, the club is elated to play under the lights at the GVSU Soccer Field, a place it has not lost since Nov. 21, 2008, for nearly all of October.
 
"I know the girls are very eager to get home. For most programs, there's a different mindset when you're playing on your own field," says head coach Jeff Hosler. "And there's something about waking up in your own bed, on your own campus going through the game-day process that makes playing at home special."
 
GVSU went 4-1 in its five-match road stint, but, more importantly, it made significant progress from tactical and technical standpoints. Passing was much improved. Possession was maintained more frequently. Defensive breakdowns occurred less often.
 
All of those things culminated in the Lakers' 6-0 rout of Findlay last Sunday (Sep. 28). Five different players – Marti Corby, Gabbie Guibord, Katie Klunder, Gabriella Mencotti and Jenny Shaba – finished with at least one goal and one assist, while the team's forwards totaled four goals and four of its eight assists.
 
"What allowed us to have good possession was our decision making," says Hosler. "We didn't force balls forward when we didn't need to; we got more players involved mentally in the game, because they were sharing touches; we were more opportunistic, particularly on Sunday, burying the scoring chances we had more often."
 
Moreover, Hosler and the coaching staff learned quite a bit about this year's personnel.
 
"We've had five weeks in training to learn about them, and for them to learn about us," says Hosler. "Role identification has been important…and will be an important piece over the next few weeks."
 
Although GVSU's 65-match home unbeaten streak – already a Division II record – does not appear to be in serious jeopardy with a pair of struggling teams coming to town, none of this week's opponents will be taken lightly. Indianapolis, Malone and Tiffin carry a combined overall record of 4-17-2, but playing on their own pitch should give the Lakers a tremendous boost.
 
"The girls are so anxious to be back home that they are going to have a sense of urgency and excitement playing," says Hosler. "They understand the need for urgency. I know the coaching staff and girls will have each other focused on the task at hand (this week)."
 
Starting with Wednesday (Oct. 1) evening's non-conference tilt against Indianapolis, which kicks off at 5 p.m., six of GVSU's next eight matches will be at home. The Lakers square off with GLIAC foe Malone at 7 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 3), before they hit the road on Sunday (Oct. 5) for another league contest at Tiffin.