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Coming off a 22-2-2 season which saw them win the 2014 NCAA Division II Championship, Jeff Hosler and his team had one theme in mind. Be Better.
 
On the eve of the 2015 title game, and after compiling a 22-1-1 record, the only business remaining is a win on Saturday versus Columbus State to bring home the fifth title (third consecutive) in program history.
 
Standing in the way of the Laker three-peat is a dangerous and high scoring opponent in  #3 Columbus State (22-2-1). The Cougars are the only team that can hold a flame to the offensive numbers Grand Valley has put up this season, and they made easy work of semifinal opponent Bridgeport in a 3-1 victory on Thursday.
 
"What stood out most about Columbus State is how disciplined each of their players are in their role," said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler. "In the system they play in they have to be well disciplined, and it's clear they've been well taught and know their roles. They have two dynamic strikers up top that have the ability to beat you multiple ways. Defensively, they do a good job of getting numbers behind the ball and being hard to break down. At this stage, you're going to play the best competition there is, and there's no question that Columbus State is that."
 
While GVSU outstripped all other teams in total goals on the season and currently lead the nation with 102 goals on the year, Columbus State is closest to that figure with 86 goals this season. The Cougars feature eight different players with three or more goals this season, Grand Valley has ten such players. Winning this game will require a better defensive effort and focus than the Lakers were able to muster in Thursday's 3-2 victory over Western Washington. After holding two comfortable leads in the game, Grand Valley twice yielded goals to the Vikings to put themselves back into danger.
 
"We're still seeking a complete 90 minutes, and the great thing is that we have one more opportunity to try and achieve that. Yesterday, we had some great moments, but we just didn't find that full 90," Hosler said."We're going to have to be focused defensively, and more disciplined on our end than them. They're not a team where you can just say "do this and you'll stop them", our players will have to read the game and make subtle adjustments on the fly to have success, as they have done all year."
 
After losing some of the players from last season's championship team, the Lakers have had players step up to fill vacancies in the talent stacked lineup, but with some new or inexperienced players seeing big minutes for the Lakers this season, picking up where they left off last season is critical to the defense of the title. The knowledge and experience of how to win the championship can be found with the veteran players from the previous two seasons.
 
"Our returning players have done a good job all year, it's been a season long process in telling new players how to manage each day, manage expectations and putting your best foot forward," Hosler said. "They go through that then so that when we get an opportunity late in the season like now, they're already in that mindset. Young players have done a good job stepping up this season when their names are called, and our returners deserve a lot of  credit for getting them to that point."
 
With a win on Saturday, Grand Valley can join Franklin Pierce as the only two Division II schools to have won five national titles in women's soccer. A win would give the Lakers the three-peat, three consecutive years of finishing as Division II National Champs.
 
There are very few ways to be better than 22-2-2 and winning a second consecutive title, and in Saturday's game, the Laker soccer team has a golden opportunity to be better and accomplish something great while doing it.
 
Kick off is set for 12 p.m. central time as Ashton Brosnaham Sports Complex in Pensacola, Florida on Saturday, Dec. 5^th.  Results and a game recap can be found on gvsulakers.com after the game.