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Nothing is given in postseason play, and everything must be earned. The Grand Valley State women's soccer team has risen to the occasion this season, running rampant through the GLIAC Tournament, avenging their only loss of the season to Quincy in a big way at home, and, most recently, triumphing over the stingy defense of #14 Bellarmine on Friday.
 
On Sunday, the Lakers face their biggest challenge yet, an NCAA Quarterfinals matchup with the #8 ranked Jennies of Central Missouri. Under head coach Lewis Theobald, the Jennies have risen to elite status among Division II women's soccer programs, amassing a 151-25-17 record over the past nine seasons and winning five straight MIAA Conference Championships.
 
"In a lot of ways, we look at Central Missouri and we find ourselves looking through a mirror, they do a lot of the same things we do, they have a lot of the same tendencies on both sides of the ball that we do," said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler. "I think this matchup will come down to the level of competition between each line of play."
 
The Jennies feature three players with double digit goals on the season, just like the Lakers. However the Lakers do hold the edge in overall scoring this season (98-64).
 
"Because of their possession style, and the ability to make good combinations, they're a dangerous offensive team.," Hosler said. "They have three forwards that can create plays on their own, in one on one moments. They have a lot of really talented individual players that can do things by themselves, but what makes them great is the ability to combine together."
 
The Lakers have burned opponents all season by being able to get goals from any position on the field. Grand Valley has eight players who have scored at least five goals this season, making it hard to game plan against them. Similarly, the Jennies feature a flexible offense that can do damage in a variety of ways.
 
"They are not a predictable side offensively, they can take players on individually, they can get endline, combine down the middle of the field, etc. They are very similar to the way we play the game."
 
In both regional championship matches on Friday, the common theme between the four teams playing was a great defense. Each of the four is within the 15 lowest goals-against-average values in all of Division II women's soccer. Sunday's matchup features number three on the list Grand Valley (.333) and number six Central Missouri (.405). In Sunday's game, Grand Valley will look to break down the Jennies defense as few teams have been able to do this year.
 
"They have a very well organized back four, who all have good pace and are good ball winners," Hosler said. "They're also a very well coached team, Lewis is one of the all time winningest coaches in Division II, and he's got that many wins for a reason."
 
A win on Sunday will require a better overall effort from the Lakers than the one shown on Friday. After generating good early pressure, the Lakers took the foot off the gas and opened themselves up for pressure instead.
 
"We're going to need to come out a lot better Sunday than we did on Friday. Our first ten minutes on Friday were good, then I felt like we really dropped off over the next eighty. I think that we will be prepared, I know our girls are very excited and focused for Sunday, because I think they were disappointed in their performance on Friday overall."
 
Kick off on Sunday is set for 12 p.m Central Time at Jennies Soccer Field in Warrensburg, MO.
 
 
Game Notes
 
-The Lakers are 6-1 on the road this season. Central Missouri is 13-1 at home this season.
- Jennies midfielder Megan Woolley (13 Goals) will likely see a lot of Lakers defender Katy Woolley (no relation), and vice versa.
- Both teams feature three players with double digit goals this season.
- The Lakers got the better of the Jennies in last season's NCAA Quarterfinal, winning 3-1.
- GVSU has beaten all three ranked teams faced this season (#4 Minnesota-Mankato, #21 Ashland, #14 Bellarmine)