Sunday vs. Michigan Tech at 1:00 PM:  Game Notes  l  Live Stats  

ALLENDALE, Mich.—The Grand Valley State women's soccer team has had an exemplary record in the GLIAC Tournament since it's inception during the 2007 season. Since it began, the Lakers have won nine straight GLIAC Tournament titles and amassed a 23-0-1 record, and will play in Sunday afternoon's title game against a capable Michigan Tech team for the 2016 title. GVSU has won the tournament title in every season since it began.
 
GVSU (18-1-1, 11-0 GLIAC) got past quarterfinal opponent Northern Michigan, the eighth seeded team in the field, with relative ease, scoring six goals en route to shutting out the Wildcats. That advanced the Lakers into a semifinal matchup with Ohio Dominican on Friday afternoon, in which GVSU emerged victorious with a 2-0 result. The Huskies advanced past sixth seeded Ferris State in the quarterfinals by a 2-1 tally, and emerged victorious in Friday night's semifinal tilt against Walsh with a late goal.
 
In both matches of this year's tournament, the Lakers have gotten on the scoreboard early, which has been key in giving opponents an uphill battle to climb in defeating the three-time defending national champions and second ranked Lakers. That offensive efficiency has been par to the course for the Lakers this season, as they lead all of Division II with 85 goals on the season, an average of 4.25 goals per contest. The offense of Grand Valley State will face a tough test in the Huskies defensively, as they have allowed just 10 goals all season, and have excelled at limiting opponent scoring. That defense was on display the last time these teams faced each other on Sep. 25^th in Houghton, Michigan, a game in which the Lakers prevailed by just a 1-0 margin.
 
"Tech is a side that has great size, speed and athleticism", GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler said. "They play very hard for 90 minutes, they have a very dangerous player up top in Jaci Mielke that can create goals and opportunities on her own. Their back line is athletic, they close to the ball really well, and if you are not clean and quick in your approach its difficult to get in behind them."
 
The lone goal in the previous matchup between the teams came as an early strike off the foot of junior forward Gabriella Mencotti, and was scored in the 12^th minute.  That strike was key in that it forced a low-scoring Huskie side to have to play from behind and try to keep up with a Laker offense that far outstrips them in terms of offensive potential. While GVSU's early goals against Ohio Dominican seemed to take some of that rhythm out of the Lakers on Friday, they will be an important tool moving forward in postseason play.
 
"Early goals are going to be a huge advantage for us against anybody we play from here on out, it only really worked against us because it was our third time playing Ohio Dominican and we got complacent", Hosler said. "At this time of year we will always look for those early goals because it opens the game up for us so much and is a big early boost." 
 
As a team that matches up well against the Lakers key players on offense, Michigan Tech poses problems for the Lakers, even while GVSU has the luxury of playing on their home field. Scoring chances may be at a premium against Michigan Tech, affording a precious few opportunities for GVSU to overpower Tech with shots as they have all season. Accordingly, the Lakers will look to be sharper in their offensive execution than they were against Ohio Dominican in order to make the most of what opportunities they get.
 
"We have to be really good in our combination play, and need to execute the final ball and finish goal scoring chances better than we did in our earlier matchup with them this season in order to win tomorrow", Hosler said.
 
Sunday's game will be played at the GVSU Soccer Field in Allendale, Michigan at 1:00 p.m. The game will be shown on ESPN3, with an on-field trophy presentation to follow immediately after the game.