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Grand Valley State. Saint Rose. The two heavyweights of Division II women's soccer—which boast a combined 14 NCAA Semifinal appearances since 2006—will square off, vying for a spot in the NCAA Championship.
 
No other Division II program has come even remotely close to matching the extraordinary feats accomplished by these powerhouses. The two own four of the last five national titles, with three belonging to the Lakers and the other to the Golden Knights. GVSU has recorded eight consecutive 20-win campaigns. Saint Rose has posted seven in a row. Both are inside the top four in NCAA Tournament victories as well—GVSU ranks second with 31, while Saint Rose's 24 are fourth all time.
 
Matchups of this magnitude, ones that seem destined to be instant classics, are rare.
 
After all, this will be only the third meeting between these unrivaled, elite programs. The Lakers topped Saint Rose in the 2009 NCAA Semifinals, erasing a two-goal deficit and winning 3-2 in overtime. Two years later, the Golden Knights exacted their revenge. With GVSU eyeing a three-peat, Saint Rose scored two second-half goals and claimed its first national championship.
 
But all of the history, the achievements, the accolades, none of it will mean anything come kick off.
 
"In a lot of ways, it's just two teams going out to play on Thursday," says head coach Jeff Hosler. "We've spent our focus on making sure our girls are playing their best every day, continuing to learn and making sure we are getting better each day."
 
Following a well-deserved break over Thanksgiving, the Lakers returned refreshed, focused and hungry. According to Hosler, the club's most recent practices were arguably the best he has seen all year.
 
While the team's focus in training has been on self-improvement, the coaching staff has zeroed in on what the Golden Knights bring to the table. And, as one would expect at this stage of the postseason, Saint Rose is loaded with talent. Athleticism and physicality stand out from the staff's early observations. So is its willingness to play a more possession-oriented brand of soccer.
 
Moreover, there is one player the Lakers must always be aware of: Carmelina Poupolo.
 
A fifth-year senior, Poupolo is Division II's active career leader in points (197), goals (72), assists (53) and games played (102). This season, she ranks second nationally with 49 points and 21 goals. Her nine game-winning goals are tied for the most by any Division II player this year.
 
"There's no question she is a special talent. (We) just have to be aware of her, know where she is at all times and make sure she doesn't have freedom and time on the ball," says Hosler, before noting his back line's 14 shutouts. "We are taking our team defending approach the same as we have for all our games this year. We are really confident in our team defending right now, because we have been doing that very, very well."
 
Offensively, GVSU has plenty of firepower to match any output by Saint Rose.
 
The Lakers are the only Division II club with four 10-goal scorers—Katie Bounds, Marti Corby, Gabriella Mencotti and Jenny Shaba—and one of only two teams with 10 three-goal scorers. Given what Hosler has seen in training, that depth will likely be on display.
 
"I like how confident our players are right now in the attack," says Hosler. "Well deep into our roster we have players confident running at people, combining, being dangerous going to goal and really playing with a lot of confidence. That's going to be important. Games at this stage, you may only generate a couple chances each way."
 
Earning a victory will require two things: playing with a sense of urgency and imposing its style of play early in the match.
 
"Starting the game with a sense of urgency is important," says Hosler. "(As is) implementing our system of possession, making sure we are getting everyone involved, knocking the ball around and getting that first touch to be confident and comfortable."
 
Kick off for Thursday's NCAA Semifinal at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky Is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST.