KANSAS CITY, Mo.— A late goal in the 75^th minute of play doomed the #2 Lakers in Saturday's NCAA Division II National Championship game at Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri. The Lakers fell to top-ranked Western Washington University 3-2 in their search for a fourth straight national championship.
 
The game was an instant classic, a punch-for-punch bout between the two top-ranked titans in women's soccer. Three times the Vikings struck a go-ahead blow, only to see the Lakers rally back to tie it each time. The game-winner came off of a long set piece goal from 25 yards out by Western Washington, as they answered back just five minutes after the Lakers tied the game at two apiece in the 71^st minute. The free kick from 25 yards out touched off the crossbar and into the net for what would be the game-winning goal.
 
No matchup between these two teams was going to be decided without dramatics, and this game was in no way short of excitement. Two first half goals—the first allowed by GVSU all season— put the Lakers behind in this one fairly early, as the first of two goals by Western's Caitlyn Jobanek gave the Vikings the lead in the 17^th minute of play.
 
Veteran teams don't panic, and the Lakers were no exception, as they defied the high press of Western Washington to equalize the game in the 32^nd minute. Senior forward Jayma Martin, the hero of last season's NCAA Semifinal victory over the Vikings, chipped Western Washington goalkeeper Ashley Homer after receiving a pass from Gabriella Mencotti. Her goal from six yards out evened the game at 1-1.
 
However the Vikings did not take kindly to yielding their lead, and Jobanek showed up her earlier effort with an absolute rocket of a kick from 25 yards out over a diving Jennifer Steinaway to put Western Washington back on top, 2-1 as the teams headed to the halftime break.
 
In the second half, the Vikings were content to sit back on defense in their own half, contrary to the first-half press that had aided them so well. That strategy came back to haunt them however, as the Lakers showed they were able to score again, even with numbers behind the ball for the Vikings. In the 71^st minute, senior defender Clare Carlson took a ball from senior Kendra Stauffer and fired a scintillating strike into the far upper corner of the net past an outstretched Homer. That second half equalizer gave the Lakers a burst of momentum and showed that the game was far from over, albeit for a few minutes.
 
In the 75^th minute, a free kick was awarded to Western Washington about 25 yards from goal, setting up a dangerous chance for the Vikings. Midfielder Emily Webster fired off a long shot that sailed into the Laker goal to score what would be the game-winner in the contest.
 
 
Despite rallying twice to tie the game, the Lakers were playing from behind seemingly from the onset, as the Vikings sustained their press well in the first half, and did not falter in their attack even as the Lakers rallied in the second half. GVSU was outshot 16-8 by Western Washington, and in the end struggled to manufacture looks against a capable Viking defence.
 
Four Lakers (defender Erika Bradfield, midfielder Marti Corby, and forwards Gabriella Mencotti and Kendra Stauffer) were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
 
With the loss, the Lakers finish the season at 23-2-1, and will see the conclusion of the career of a dynamic senior class, one that owned a program-best 92-5-5 record and a .926 winning percentage in their four seasons at Allendale. In addition, the senior class of Marti Corby, Clare Carlson, Kendra Stauffer, Jayma Martin, Gabbie Guibord and Alexis Mencotti brought home three NCAA National Championships, four Midwest Regional Championships, four GLIAC Tournament and Regular-Season titles, and accrued over 20 All-American or All-Region honors. Their impact to the program goes far beyond the reach of titles, honors and statistics, however, and will continue to be felt in this program long after they hang up their cleats for good.