After a dominant regular season, the Grand Valley women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA semifinals off of two significantly closer games. In Thursday's semifinal match against Western Washington, the Lakers wasted no time in striking a crucial early blow, scoring a pair of goals in the first nine minutes of the half.
 
It was a familiar story for the Lakers this season, as they have made a point of striking early and often. Six minutes into the first half, forward Gabriella Mencotti popped up a feed into the box off of her head. Junior Jayma Martin quickly capitalized on the ball as it came down , firing a high volley into the net to give the Lakers an early 1-0 lead.
 
Just two minutes later, the duo of Mencotti and Martin would set up another Laker goal. A Martin cross into the box was fired at the goal by Mencotti. The shot was saved into the crossbar by Viking goalkeeper Ashley Haden, and the ball bounced out in front of the goal. Junior Kendra Stauffer won the race to the loose ball and fired the ball into the back of the open net for her 15^th goal of the season.

"It's no secret that quick starts in this game can go a long way, and if you can get a quick start and capitalize it really sets the tone and makes it difficult for a team to settle into the game," said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler. "To score twice in those first ten minutes really did hat for us as it has all season. It was our message at the half that we didn't close the half well, conceding the goal, and that we know we are capable of doing better because we did so at the opening whistle."

The Lakers got a good look at the goal with 16 minutes left, as a series of beautiful passes between Marti Corby and Gabriella Mencotti gave Mencotti a shot on goal, albeit at a tough angle. Haden made the save however, keeping the Laker lead at two, where it would stay until the four minute mark, when the Vikings would convert a set piece into a goal.
 
Looping a long corner kick into the far side of the box, the Vikings got a goal from center back Delanee Niles off of a header from the far side of goal with just under four minutes remaining, cutting the deficit to 2-1 heading into halftime.
 
Coming out strong in the second half, Grand Valley scored a third goal just 30 seconds into the second half, and once again, it was courtesy of Jayma Martin. Martin took a low cross into the box off the foot of Kendra Stauffer and fired a low shot past the keeper for her second goal of the game, and tenth of the season. 

"Jayma and Kendra had great moments," Hosler said. "Jayma was our best offensive players today, but I think even with everything Jay and Kenny did for us today, Katy Woolley was the best player on the field for us today. She was so composed, she cleaned up everything, got into tackles, kept the ball for us and built possession and we went up the field, so I thought she was fantastic in the match."

Facing renewed pressure by the Vikings in the 33^rd minute, the Lakers yielded a corner kick, a dangerous opportunity for the Vikings. An ensuing shot inside the box was saved by a diving Emily Maresh, however, keeping the score at 3-1. Maresh ended another corner threat at the 26 minute mark, rising above the crowd to corral the ball.
 
The Lakers continued to get good looks in the second half off of outside crosses into the box. In the 29 minute, Katie Bounds floated in a long cross, which Dani Johnson deflected to Marti Corby. Corby's low and powerful shot was on target, but saved by Haden. Minutes later, Grand Valley turned a corner kick into a high curling shot by Corby, but the play was whistled offsides.
 
Marti Corby set up her own shot with a beautiful spin move at midfield. Racing down to the outer box, she fired a shot past the reach of the Viking goalkeeper, but the shot floated high and hit the crossbar in the 17^th minute.
 
Things got interesting as time wound down in the second half , as Western Washington scored in the 15^th minute off of an own goal by Grand Valley, cutting the lead in half.  
 
Trying to answer back in the 11^th minute, Marti Corby fired a short cross into the box for Katie Bounds, but Haden stepped in front of the cross and cut off the pass to end the threat.
 
The Vikings would threaten again with just 6 minutes left in the half off of a corner kick. Delanee Niles got a great look at goal, but her header went wide of goal to end the threat.
 
For the remaining five and a half minutes, the Lakers would limit possession for the Vikings, throttling any good opportunity to tie the game.

"We just beat a really good opponent in Western Washington," Hosler said. "They were as big and as athletic as any team we've played this season, and they just keep coming at you. They have a deep roster, so they were able to constantly bring fresh legs on. To come out of their with a win, I give our girls a lot of credit." 

With the win, the Lakers match the win total of the 2014 squad with their 22^nd win, and will advance to their third straight NCAA Division II National Championship to face off against Columbus State, 3-1 winners of the other semifinal vs. Bridgeport University. 

"The message has been clear all season, that we are here to win a championship, and that's what we came here to do, but I think it's also important to embrace what we did today with a win, and feel good about it for a while, and then after a few hours it's right back to work this evening to prepare for Saturday," Hosler said.