Box Score

Defenders are usually the ones responsible for preventing scoring opportunities rather than creating them, but the Grand Valley State women's soccer team got three goals from its back line in a 5-0 shutout of Malone. The Lakers, who spent nearly the entire match on the offensive, piled up 53 shots—a new school record—as they cruised to their fifth consecutive victory.
 
Of the 20 positions players who saw action for GVSU on Friday (Oct. 3) night, 16 of them fired at least one shot. Although the Lakers were only credited with 16 shots on goal, another 16 attempts were blocked, slightly skewing the numbers.

"They did a good job of (blocking shots)," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "Our pass total was the highest its been all year. We have to do it in a more dangerous part of the field—in and around the box—more often. But it's difficult when you're going against an opposition that puts that many players in behind the ball and in the box. It's difficult to break down, which is why teams do it."
 
Freshman forward Gabriella Mencotti rifled a shot from 20 yards out, sending it past a bewildered Pioneer goalkeeper to initiate the scoring started in the 11^th minute. It would eventually be documented as the Northville High School alum's third game-winning tally of the year.
 
With more Malone offensive players packed into its own end, defensive midfielder Dani Johnson crept up, almost unnoticed, near the 18-yard box in the 30^th minute. Once there, sophomore midfielder Marti Corby quickly sent over an on-target pass, setting the freshman up with a variety of shooting angles at the half-circle atop the box. Johnson then whistled a shot by Malone's Kari Naylor for the first goal of her collegiate career.
 
Three minutes later, senior defender Juane Odendaal was the next defensive player to get in on the scoring. The London, Ontario product streaked up the near side of the pitch, where freshman forward Kendra Stauffer spotted her ahead of the entire Pioneer back line. Despite the great distance between the two, Stauffer sent an in-stride pass from the far side, putting the ball right at Odendaal's feet for an easy finish.
 
Redshirt senior Kaely Schlosser recorded her first points as a Laker shortly after a corner kick in the 48^th minute. Senior forward Jenny Shaba booted a low serve into the middle of the 18-yard box, finding the foot of Mencotti, who re-directed it to Schlosser. A top-shelf goal by the Central Michigan transfer brought a fitting end to the wonderful display of teamwork.

"I'm proud of the way our defenders attacked today. Our outside backs got forward a lot," said Hosler. "We found some creative ways for our center back to get forward, on occasion."
 
Freshman forward Sara Stevens closed out the scoring with a 79th-minute tally. Shaba was credited with her second assist of the night on the goal.

"Our last 16-17 minutes tonight were pretty bad. I think we fell asleep at the wheel a little bit," said Hosler. "We lost our focus and discipline, which has to get better."
 
The win lifts GVSU's overall record to 8-1-0, GLIAC mark to 4-0-0 and its record against Malone to 3-0-0.
 
The Lakers will be back in action on Sunday at Tiffin. Kick off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Notes:
-By scoring five goals tonight, GVSU improved to 189-1-0 all-time when scoring more than three times in a match
-This is the Lakers' eighth 4-0 start to GLIAC play in program history
-The two highest shot totals in GVSU history are both against Malone—tonight's 53 shots and 48 attempts in last season's meeting
-The Lakers have won all of their last 35 matches played in Allendale during the month of October
-GVSU has won 27 consecutive GLIAC matches, which is 10 victories shy of the program record
-The Lakers extended their home unbeaten streak to 67 matches, bringing it within two wins or ties of the fifth-longest streak in NCAA history
-With two assists tonight, Jenny Shaba, who has 24 career helpers, passed Alyssa Mira for 10th place on GVSU's career assist leaders list
-Charlie Socia made her 84th consecutive appearance this evening, moving her into a tie with Katie Ales for the eighth-longest streak in school history
-Marti Corby's 13 shots matched the school record set by Katy Tafler, which was set back on Aug. 31, 2008 against Southern Indiana