GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal vs. Northern Michigan (2:00 PM)

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ALLENDALE, Mich.— Fresh off the conclusion of a second consecutive undefeated conference season, the Grand Valley State women's soccer team is set to embark on a busy week in defending their streak of consecutive GLIAC Tournament Championships. That journey begins on Tuesday afternoon, as GVSU puts a 21-0-1 all-time GLIAC Tournament record on the line against Northern Michigan (4-9-4, 3-4-4 GLIAC) in the GLIAC Quarterfinals.
 
The Lakers have won every GLIAC Tournament Championship since their inception in 2007, amounting to nine straight titles and a nearly impeccable record in the postseason tournament. That alone puts the Lakers as heavy favorites against eighth-seeded Northern Michigan, the final team to punch their tournament ticket with a 0-0 draw at Michigan Tech on Friday. The Wildcats hosted the Lakers at home earlier this season on September 23^rd, yielding the game to the defending national champions by a 3-0 tally.
 
"Northern is a team that's been playing well down the stretch, they got some good results in October", GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler said. "They held us off the scoreboard in the first half earlier this season, they were harder to break down and defended us a little differently than we had seen to that point. Once we had a halftime conversation about how to move the ball forward differently, we were much more effective. They are certainly an opponent that has our girl's attention, because they can be difficult to break down. They're an experienced team with a lot of veterans, so I think this is a pretty tough quarterfinal draw for us."
 
For the second consecutive season in a row, Grand Valley State will host the eighth-seeded team in the first round of the tournament at home, as they did against now departed Malone last season. Although the Laker have proven an ability to win anywhere, they have traditionally been best at GVSU Soccer Field, where they own a 149-6-5 record dating back to the 2003 season. In last season's GLIAC Tournament, the Lakers ran roughshod over Malone, Ohio Dominican and Ashland, in order, to claim their ninth straight title without yielding a goal along the way.
 
Despite a history of excellent performance in the conference tournament, the focus of the Laker players and coaches has not changed from day one of the season. Overlooking opponents is dangerous for any team to do, doubly so in the postseason, where losses carry even more weight. Hosler and his club are focused on the Wildcats, even as they prepare for the possible outcome that would see them play three games in six days, a feat that will test both the depth of his team and their tactical skills.
 
"Our approach all season has just been on the daily task, and that will continue to be the approach moving forward. The only real change that we see this week is with the potential of three games, knowing that the training will be a lot less contact and more tactical in nature, but we plan to operate business as usual. We also have to deal with a quick turnaround, having just one day of training, one team meeting and one conversation going into Tuesday's match."
One of several constants for the Lakers this season has been an effective and deadly offense. GVSU leads all Division II programs in total goals (77)and assists (71) and is second in scoring offense (4.28). A pair of top-performing senior forwards in Jayma Martin (15 goals) and Kendra Stauffer (14 goals) have been an excellent tandem all season, only to be outshone by the breakout junior campaign of forward Gabriella Mencotti. The Novi, Michigan native is first in Division II in total points, with 53, and is second in goals, with 22. Senior midfielder and two-time NSCAA Player of the Year Marti Corby has transitioned from the team's primary goal-scorer a year ago to setting up the trio of Laker forwards, and is the top assister in the country with 22 helpers in 18 games.
 
On pace with last season's program record 104 goal scoring pace, the Lakers offense has been prolific this season, propelling the Lakers to a conference best 55 goals in 11 games. At five goals per GLIAC game during the conference season, the Lakers beat their own GLIAC record for goals per game of 4.92, set last season.
 
Not to be overshadowed by their own offense, the Laker defense was on par for a GLIAC record of it's own heading into last Friday's matchup with Ferris State. GVSU was set to become the first GLIAC team to go through a conference season without yielding a goal in conference play, only to see that mark slip from grasp as the Bulldogs were awarded a penalty kick and converted on the rebound from said penalty kick to break the streak. Even still, GVSU tied it's own mark of one conference goal, set in 2013 and matched again in 2015, allowing just one goal in the conference slate.
 
If Grand Valley State prevails over the Wildcats on Tuesday, they will host the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between fourth-seeded Ohio Dominican and fifth-seeded Northwood in the GLIAC semifinal on Friday afternoon.