Coming off its first home loss in nearly six years, the Grand Valley State women's soccer team sent a resounding message that any ill effects of Friday night's setback are long gone. The No. 3 Lakers frustrated Ashland all afternoon, scoring four times and yielding just one shot in the second half of a 4-0 victory.

"It's difficult physically and mentally to have the focus and awareness of your opponent and execute each time out (with three matches in five days). To add in the emotion coming off of Friday night's loss, and the emotional part of it we have been going through over the last 48 hours, made today full of challenges," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "I give the girls a lot of credit for being able to be focused. I got a sense in the locker room that they were more mentally engaged and focused on key tactical things than just playing with emotion."
 
Although things started slow for GVSU, once things got rolling, the Eagles found themselves overwhelmed by one of the nation's top offenses.
 
In the eighth minute, a through ball by junior forward Katie Bounds, who made her first start of the season on Sunday (Oct. 19), set up a breakaway opportunity for junior midfielder Katie Klunder. With Ashland goalkeeper Karly Beuck charging to the top of the 18-yard box, Klunder calmly dribbled around her and booted a shot into the vacated goal.
 
Roughly 10 minutes later, Bounds had a major hand in another tally. The Southfield, Michigan native slid a pass toward freshman forward Gabriella Mencotti, which she quickly dished off to sophomore midfielder Marti Corby. After a nifty touch, Corby rocketed a shot past Beuck and into the netting, upping her season goal total to nine.
 
The Lakers took a little bit to get going in the second stanza as well, but eventually hit their stride once again.
 
A takeaway by senior Jenny Shaba set up her sixth goal of the season in the 61^st minute. She was not done there, though. The reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year lofted a superb corner kick right in front of the goal, where senior defender Alyssa Wesley headed it in to make it 4-0 with a little more than 14 minutes remaining in regulation. Shaba now boasts 12 assists this year, equaling her total from all of last season.
 
The victory enables GVSU to remain atop the GLIAC standings heading into its two-match road trip to the Upper Peninsula next weekend. The Lakers are now 13-2-0 overall and 8-1-0 in conference play.

"(Today) we responded to a loss much better, with the way that we played, executed and got the final result, than we did earlier this year, which is a great sign," said Hosler. "They understand what needs to happen moving forward and they certainly know the importance of this trip coming next weekend."
 
GVSU will look to start a new multi-match winning streak on Friday (Oct. 24) at Northern Michigan. Kick off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Notes:
-Since 2002, GVSU is 21-2-2 and has outscored opponents 75-10 when following a loss
-With her two assists today, Katie Bounds is now the eighth Laker with three or more assists this season
-Senior midfielder Charlie Socia made her 90th consecutive appearance, tying her with Katy Tafler and Ashley Elsass for the fifth-longest streak in school history
-Today marked the fifth time this season Jenny Shaba recorded at least one goal and one assist in the same match
-Shaba now has 12 assists this year, which is tied for the ninth-most by a Laker in a single season
-By scoring today, Marti Corby has notched a goal in seven of GVSU's last 11 matches
-GVSU is now 61-11-2 all-time in October home matches
-The Lakers have won 12 consecutive matches, all via shutouts, against Ashland
-Andrea Strauss made five saves to record her eighth solo shutout of the season, tying her for the 10th-most by a Laker goalkeeper in a single campaign