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One more win is all the Grand Valley State women's soccer team needs to guarantee itself a 10^th consecutive GLIAC regular season championship.
 
In order to claim yet another league title, the No. 10 Lakers will have to go through upstart Walsh, and revitalize their offense in their final match of the regular season. Although GVSU generated several scoring opportunities in its matches at Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech last weekend, it managed just one goal. This resulted in a 1-0 win over the Wildcats and a 0-0 tie with the Huskies.
 
"We played well offensively, particularly against Michigan Tech, we were very effective offensively," says head coach Jeff Hosler. "We did generate a lot of dangerous chances, but just ran into a game where we didn't seem to capitalize."
 
While the club's scoring entered a lull in the Upper Peninsula, the defense kicked things into high gear. Northern Michigan, which features the league's second-best scoring offense (2.3 goals per game), managed a mere three shots. Michigan Tech fired 12 shots, the majority of which were harmless attempts. GVSU's starting defenders—Clare Carlson, Alexis Mencotti, Juane Odendaal and Kaely Schlosser—combined to play all but six minutes in the win and draw.
 
"Defensively, we have been much, much better. The Ohio Dominican game was a little bit of an eye-opener for everyone in the program about where the focus needs to be had over the coming weeks," says Hosler. "The girls have bought into that and been very good behind the ball."
 
The club's defensive progress will be put to the test yet again this Saturday (Nov. 1). Even with a 1-3-2 record in their last six matches, the Cavaliers, who boast the third-most goals (33) among GLIAC clubs, are still very dangerous. Their two dynamic attackers—Kristen Conti and Jessie Gearhart—can catch fire at any time. The duo has combined for 16 goals and three assists this season.
 
"(Conti and Gearhart) create their own chances by themselves, which always makes them a threat," says Hosler. "And (Walsh) has taken big strides this year as a program, from where they were last year, on both sides of the ball. We look forward to playing a really good opponent and playing hard to wrap up the regular season.
 
"When we are through that, we will have an opportunity to turn the page and look at the postseason."
 
As for how things will play out in the standings, Hosler knows the team's focus can only be on itself. Ohio Dominican (11-3-1, 8-1-1 GLIAC) and GVSU (14-2-1, 9-1-1) both have a loss and a draw in league play. At the moment, the Lakers hold a half-game lead. But the Panthers can erase that deficit with a win over Ferris State on Thursday (Oct. 30) evening. ODU closes out its GLIAC slate at Lake Erie on Saturday.
 
Since ODU bested GVSU 1-0 earlier this year, if the two clubs finish tied atop the league standings, the Panthers would earn the top seed in the GLIAC Tournament.

"We will certainly talk about what is at stake for us in terms of winning, and what that win could mean for us. But all the other scenarios that can play out aren't important to what we are trying to accomplish," says Hosler. "We will take care of ourselves and let the rest of the chips fall how they may."
 
Prior to Saturday's 2 p.m. kick off, the Lakers' six seniors—Odendaal, Schlosser, Jenny Shaba, Charlie Socia, Andrea Strauss and Alyssa Wesley—will be honored.
 
Check back tomorrow for a release detailing the accomplishments of the departing senior class.