In the final tune up before GLIAC play begins, the 12th ranked GVSU soccer team will wrap up its tough non-conference schedule with home games against California State-San Bernardino and No. 4 ranked Minnesota State on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Both games will be televised on Comcast XFINITY 900 in Michigan and webcast live on GVSULakers.com official YouTube channel.  

Friday's game against Cal State will be somewhat familiar ground for the Lakers players. Despite having only met up once before in program history (a GV win), GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler has a good idea of what to expect come Friday.
 
"San Bernardino is a team that was ranked all of last season, a very organized group with a new coach. We'll expect them to be real technical, and small, quick players. They'll exhibit a style very similar to ours."
 
Sunday's game against the Mavericks of Minnesota State (Mankato) offers the Lakers an opportunity for revenge. The Mavericks were one of just two losses suffered by the 2014 Grand Valley team on their way to the national championship, defeating the Lakers 1-0 on their home field. They also have a preferred style of play, notes Hosler.
 
" Minnesota State is a very deep team full of tall, strong, athletic players. They play a much more direct style and challenge teams to beat them through the air. They like to pressure you, force you into making mistakes and then quickly turning those mistakes into scoring chances."
 
The tough non-conference schedule gives Hosler the ability to test different offensive and defensive strategies against his lineup.
 
"These different styles will give us a very good measuring stick of where we are at and what we need to improve on as we head into GLIAC play", said Hosler.
 
If their opponents will focus on capitalizing on their mistakes, then it would be best for the Lakers to improve on their play from last weekend, when they split a pair of matches against Quincy and Truman State. After suffering a 0-3 loss to the Hawks of Quincy on Friday, the Lakers rebounded nicely, playing up to their potential in a 4-0 victory over Truman on Sunday.
 
"I think our girls felt a lot better about how they played in the second match. We fixed a few issues about how we were attacking and stacking the box. Individual and team confidence was much higher after that match, and with a team as young as ours is, it's important to have that."
 
The Lakers will face a tough test with both teams. Cal State is 1-1-1 on the season, while Minnesota State is 2-0 thus far and has scored 10 goals through its first two games. Stopping that offense will be a test for a Lakers defense that had a weekend of mixed results.
Coach Hosler knows what his talented team is capable of, but the key to their success if for the players to recognize that on their own and let that shape their play.
 
"Our kids need to play harder, and our hope is that our players recognize that and demand more from each other."
 
Friday's match against Cal State-San Bernardino will kick off at 7 p.m at the GVSU Soccer Field. Sundays match against Minnesota State will begin at 1 p.m, and will be preceeded by a matchup between Cal State San Bernardino and Ferris State University at GVSU Soccer Field starting at 10:30 a.m.