Friday vs. Northwood: Live stats l Game notes l Video Link
Sunday vs. SVSU: Live stats  l  Game notes

ALLENDALE, Mich.—The #2 Grand Valley State women's soccer team will look to cap off another run of GLIAC dominance this weekend, as it embarks on the only home/away split weekend of the season. The Lakers are 8-0 in conference play thus far, and can clinch their 12^th straight GLIAC regular season championship with a win at home on Friday against Northwood, or on the road on Sunday against Saginaw Valley State.
 
Winners of four straight games and boasting a 13-1-1 record this season, GVSU has been particularly impressive in conference games this season in keeping with recent history. After finishing the 2015 GLIAC season 12-0 and outscoring conference opponents by a 59-1 margin, the Lakers have been even more impressive this season, having allowed no goals in conference play, and just four total on the season.
 
Ready to test that capable defense is a capable and dangerous Northwood side. At 8-5 on the season and 5-3 in GLIAC play, the Timberwolves are out-performing their preseason predictions, having been picked ninth out of 12 teams in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Timberwolves are 4-1 in their last five matchups, including a 2-1 win over Ashland in two overtimes last Sunday.
 
"I'll have a much better idea of what kind of team Northwood is after Friday", said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler. "The results they've had certainly speak to their ability, but until we play them and see how they match up, it's a tough question to answer. They are a very well organized team, they are a physical group and they counter very effectively. When we played them at Northwood in 2014, they were very dangerous in the opportunities they created, and last year they made us look very average. They are without a doubt a capable side, and you add in having confidence because of their results and GLIAC standings, and we expect it to be a very difficult opponent on Friday."
 
In matchups in each of the past two seasons, Northwood has dropped both decisions to the Lakers, but scored first in their home tilt against GVSU in 2014, and were the only conference matchup from last season in which the Lakers yielded a goal, en route to a 5-1 victory.  This season, Northwood features a pair of four goal scorers in Allison Carroll and Jessica Flores, with the former also accumulating three assists on the year.
 
Sunday's matchup pits GVSU against a tough Saginaw Valley State squad on their home field, in what will be the team's second meeting this season. The Lakers hosted the Cardinals in a home non-conference matchup on September 16^th, besting their in-state rivals by a 2-0 margin. Prior to their loss against GVSU, the Cardinals were a perfect 5-0 on the season and looked to be the surprise team of the conference. Picked to finish seventh in the aforementioned GLIAC Preseason Poll, SVSU got off to a hot start on the season and has since regressed to the mean, sitting at eighth with a 9-5-1 (3-4-1 GLIAC) record.
 
"To beat Saginaw , we've got to be able to build out of the back, and limit the mistakes that can cost us matches", Hosler said, "That's clearly something we need to grow in at this point in the season. Saginaw is a team with a very talented roster and possess depth at every position, which allows them to press consistently. Additionally, they have familiarity with us and how we play, what personnel we use and how, and they're going to feel comfortable and confident going into that matchup, so we have to play our best soccer on Sunday to come away with the three points that we seek."
 
While the Lakers have made quite a mark on offense, leading Division II in goals (64), assists (60) and points (188), there remains a litany of missed opportunities for GVSU, as well-timed runs or passes have not found the appropriate player, missed entirely or have not been handled well inside the box for the final touch.
 
"Offensively, for as many goals as we've put up, I still feel we're not as efficient as we should be", Hosler said. "Final balls have got to be found into players, I think we're guessing too much and not getting the best looks on offense. It's been good, but I think we could be much better."
 
The Laker attack has been lifted by the collective performance of a trio of forwards scoring at career best paces, and by the playmaking ability of two-time NSCAA Player of the Year Marti Corby.
 
On the flip side of the ball, the Lakers don't have as much to improve on, as they own the second best goals-against-average mark in Division II (.254), have allowed just four goals in 15 games and have posted 12 shutouts.  The Lakers defensive back five continue to dominate their area, limiting opponents to an average of seven shots per game this season, and just three on goal per contest. By this point in the season last year, the Lakers had allowed seven goals between five opponents.
 
"We've done a better job, statistically, on defense this season. It helps that we have a back four that has gained more experience. Madz Ham has been fantastic for us all year with her fitness, pace and dynamic skills on the ball. Erika and Shannon continue to grow in their abilities at center back, and Clare has been successful and capable at her position as well. We're deeper in that back four, and at holding mid we've gotten a big boost from Dani Johnson, who has responded well to being thrust into a starting role. I've been really happy with our back five play, defensively."
 
The Lakers matchup with Northwood is the final regular season home game of the season for the team. After Sunday's game against Saginaw Valley State, the Lakers play Ferris State on the road on October 28^th to close out the regular season schedule. The GLIAC Tournament will take place on Nov. 1^st, 4^th and 6^th, with the final two rounds to be hosted at the highest remaining seed.