ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 4 Lakers soccer team returns to the GVSU Soccer Field for three home contests this week, beginning Wednesday when Grand Valley State hosts the Florida Tech Panthers at 7:00 PM (
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STATS). The Lakers put their ten-game win streak on the line, looking to avenge a home loss to the Panthers in 2016.
The Lakers (10-2, 5-0 GLIAC) are coming off a dominating showing over the weekend, outscoring Ashland and Tiffin by a combined score of 12-0. Senior
Gabriella Mencotti, the 2016 NCAA scoring leader, returned to form with seven goals between the two contests, netting hat tricks in back-to-back games for the first time in her illustrious career. The performances bring her season total to 16 goals, which leads all of Division II this season, and earned her GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Grand Valley State continues to impress defensively, running the total to 910 minutes since they last conceded back on September 4. Ten straight shutouts are three shy of the Lakers all-time record and five away from the Division II mark. The Lakers allowed just one shot on goal between the two road contests over the weekend, holding Ashland to only three shots – none on goal – and Tiffin's only shot on frame came in the 3'. Despite the strong defensive showing, Lakers head coach
Jeff Hosler still wants more consistent play from his back line.
"Tiffin found holes in our defense and we must have better awareness and team defending moving forward," said Hosler.
Ten of the Lakers 12 goals over the weekend came in the first half, a number that could be troubling considering Grand Valley State blew a half time lead to the Panthers a year ago. The Lakers held a 1-0 lead at the break, taking advantage of an own goal by Florida Tech.
Keira McCarthy scored the equalizer in the 52', stopping a Lakers scoreless streak of 611 minutes. Then, after a pair of Lakers shots rang off the crossbar, a late turnover led to an 85' game-winner by McCarthy for Florida Tech to hand the Lakers their first loss of the season and first home loss since 2014.
"This game means a lot emotionally for the returners and hopefully we can have the newbies hop on board and just get up the same emotional and physical level that we expect out of the game. We can't wait," said senior midfielder
Dani Johnson, who was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week.
The 2017 Panthers (5-3-2, 2-2-1 SSC) are led offensively by sophomore
Maria Munoz, who has six goals on the year. McCarthy has three goals this year for the Panthers after leading the club in that category a year ago. As a team, the Panthers have just 15 goals this year but it's not from a lack of trying. The 144 shots generated by Florida Tech is second-most by a Sunshine State Conference team this season.
The Panthers are coming off a scoreless draw with Embry-Riddle, a match in which Florida Tech fired 18 shots but could not find the back of the net. They held the Eagles out of the net as well, something that Florida Tech has become accustomed to this year.
Opponents are averaging 1.10 goals per game against the Panthers, pairing that with the ten straight shutouts by the Lakers and rain in the forecast, this could be a defensive struggle Wednesday night. The first 1,000 students will get a free Lakers soccer scarf and the game is also available on ESPN3.
