NCAA Semifinal vs. #5 Columbus State (6:00 p.m.):  Game Notes  l  Watch Link  l  Live Stats 
Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri 

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—If it was a story, then it would almost certainly be that of a fairytale. Few other words describe the past three seasons of GVSU soccer, ripe with glory and victory, which are far from a fleeting dream for the six players who have experienced them firsthand, and the collection of twenty other athletes now unified besides them for one common purpose; winning. Only a handful of programs can hold a flame to what the Grand Valley State soccer program has accomplished over it's duration, and only one, Franklin Pierce, stands superior to GVSU's accomplishments over that span.
 
On Thursday, that veteran group of Lakers will put their hard-earned reputation on the line once more, as they face fifth-ranked Columbus State University (21-2-0) in the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament semifinals. A more fitting matchup would be hard to find, as each team has something so near and dear to battle for. For the Cougars, revenge is on the line against a 22-1-1 Lakers squad that shut them out in last season's title game en route to the program's third straight Division II title, and a chance to advance and play on Saturday for a title of their own.
 
Fitting then that the Lakers must get past their final foe from last season if they hope to play for a chance at history on Saturday in the national title game. A victory there would give Grand Valley State it's sixth title in program history, allowing the Lakers to move out of the tie with Franklin Pierce for the most of any program and into the territory of the unmatched amongst Division II women's soccer. That dream, however, must be out of the minds of the Lakers on Thursday, as a very tough and determined Columbus State team will be eager to end that dream and continue their own.
 
Second only to the Lakers in total goals this season, the Cougars feature a dynamic and aggressive offense that returns multiple star attackers from last season. Freshman forward Olivia Jarrell has led the charge with 19 goals and four assists, but is flanked by senior forward Mandy Janowitz, who has shown the playmaking ability to record double digit goals and assists (12-15). Junior forward Cassandra Wade (12 goals, six assists) and senior forward Nicole Corcione (13 goals, 10 assists) round out the top scorers for the Cougars, who have amassed 96 goals this season as a team.
 
"There's no question Columbus State returns a lot of firepower", said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler. "They're playing a very similar style to last year, but now all of those players have another year of experience and success that they've put together. They're all more dynamic and more dangerous than they were previously, and I think they have an understanding of how to be more efficient going at goal."
 
Facing the toughest challenge they've seen all season is the vaunted Laker defense, which has reached historic milestones with it's stalwart nature this season. The Lakers have allowed just six goals this season to five opponents, and have allowed more than one goal in just one game. After hanging three goals on previous Division II defensive leader Central Missouri in their last game, the Lakers now own sole possession of the nation's top defensive marks in goals allowed (6)and goals-against-average (0.28), and  are tied for the lead in shutouts, with 19. Anchoring the back line is two-time All-American Clare Carlson, as well as 2016 D2CCA All-American Shannon Quinn, 2016 All-Midwest Region selection Erika Bradfield, and proven sophomore Madz Ham, who has started every game for the Lakers.
 
"I really like the way we've defended this year, I believe we can match the physicality, the pace and the 1 v 1 defending better than we did a year ago, but it's truly going to be a collective team effort if you're going to keep an offense that potent off the board for 90 minutes", said Hosler.
 
On the far side of the field, the Cougars will have their hands full with a group of dynamic attackers of their own, as Laker forwards Jayma Martin and Kendra Stauffer will flank D2CCA Player of the Year Gabriella Mencotti to lead the Laker attack. The trio has combined to score 64 goals this season, with Mencotti providing 29 of those goals by herself, a tally that leads the nation. Behind the forwards and always a threat to take over a game is two-time NSCAA Player of the Year Marti Corby, who boasts and impressive resume of 10 goals and 24 assists this season, just one year after posting 25 goals and 17 assists. The Cougars might remember Corby well, as she netted the game-winning goal in last season's title game off of an 18 yard free kick.
 
Corby has played the last two games for the Lakers at an ever higher level of finesse and tactical ability than she did during the regular season, a feat impressive enough to warrant special attention. She scored a brace of beautiful goals against #22 Truman State in the Midwest Regional Championship, before turning around and netting the game-winner against #3 University of Central Missouri in the NCAA Quarterfinal.
 
"Marti's playing at another gear than she was throughout the regular season", Hosler said. "A big part of it is that she's reading the game a lot better this season, waiting to make her decisions based off of what the other team gives her. The way that she's helped us possess in the past two games as well as the great goals in those games shows her versatility as a player and her drive to win. She knows how to play at her very best and play with the emotion that helps you win a championship."
 
Tasked with attempting to stop the Lakers is a Cougar defense that, while not as impressive as the offense, has been no easy prey this season. Goalkeeper Maylyn Parsons is back as the net-minder for the Cougars, and has posted six shutouts and a 21-2 record while allowing just 14 goals (0.70 average) on the season.  While Parsons and the Cougar defense have not faced an offense like Grand Valley State's, the Lakers have faced far better defenses and won, as evidenced by the result against Central Missouri last time out, and Truman State in the game before that.
 
"We've scored quite a few goals this year, so I think the way that we play, and the pressure we can put on opponents has helped our front five to feel really confident in going at goal", said Hosler. "In our last two matches we played two of the top five defenses in the country and came away with five goals in those two matches, so I think offensively there's a lot of confidence. We'll need our wingers to be very good on the outside in their 1 v 1moments, and we'll need Gabriella to find space in front of goal, whether that's be her own creation or by others."
 
While difficult to predict how exactly the Cougars will take another crack at the defending national champions on Thursday, there is no doubt that the matchup presents the most difficult challenge faced by the Lakers this season. So far, they have taken the best shot of every team along the way, and weathered the storm time and time again. Whether or not they will on Thursday has yet to be determined, but the mood among the Laker players and coaches is that of unfinished business, and the 90 minutes of play that lay before them. There is a chance to seize destiny and pen another chapter in the fairytale story, and that chance will require the team's best effort tomorrow.
 
"Last year, it was a matter of weathering the storm of their early press in the first 30 minutes", Hosler said. "They pressed us very hard, we didn't seem to be able to get much going out of our final third before we had the free kick that led to the goal. They key to that match last season and what's going to be very crucial on Thursday is just composure, making good decisions under pressure and recognizing when we can possess and build more patiently. We'll need to have our very best effort tomorrow, because this will be the best opponent we've played to date, and if we want to advance we have to play our best."