Box Score It wasn't pretty by any means, but the Grand Valley State women's soccer team left Northwood with a 3-1 victory, extending its winning streak to seven matches. The No. 3 Lakers trailed 1-0 late in the first half, but came up with three unanswered goals to walk away with their 29
th consecutive victory in GLIAC play.
"We just didn't play well today," said head coach
Jeff Hosler. "(After a disallowed first-half goal) the girls' focus turned more toward that than getting back to playing well again. We played flat; not enough players showed up with an urgency to get better and get after it today.
"If there is any positive from today, it's that we got the result. It's not easy to travel the day of the match and play well. We did play several systems today and spread our minutes around as well."
With just 36 seconds remaining in the first half, sophomore midfielder
Marti Corby headed a cross from junior midfielder
Maddison Reynolds into the netting for an equalizing goal, her seventh of the 2014 campaign.
A little over seven minutes into the second stanza, freshman
Gabriella Mencotti notched her ninth goal, and fourth game-winning tally, of the season. The Novi, Michigan native has scored in each of GVSU's last six matches.
Freshman forward
Sara Stevens set up sophomore midfielder
Gabbie Guibord for an insurance goal in the 81
st minute, effectively ending the Timberwolves' upset bid.
Outside of Northwood's 33
rd-minute goal, the Lakers were relatively stout defensively. They yielded a mere two shots, while accruing 15 of their own.
Now that the Timberwolves are behind it, GVSU turns its focus to Sunday's (Oct. 12) showdown with No. 18 Saginaw Valley State in Allendale. Both teams recorded victories today, meaning the two will be battling to take over first place in the GLIAC standings.
"Everyone in our program is excited to play a nationally-ranked club on Sunday," Hosler said of the upcoming tilt for league superiority.
The Lakers and Cardinals will kick off at 1 p.m. at the GVSU Soccer Field.
Notes:-GVSU is now 23-1-1 all-time, including an ongoing stretch of 22 consecutive wins, against Northwood
-This is the seventh time in program history the Lakers have opened GLIAC play with a 6-0 record
-With a win today, GVSU improved to 52-15-5 all-time in October matches played outside of Allendale
-Since 2006, the Lakers are 65-4-9 in roach matches
-GVSU has won 29 consecutive matches in GLIAC play, which is now the sixth-longest streak in Division II history
-Today marked the seventh straight match GVSU scored at least three goals, making it the fourth-longest run in school history
