Box Score ALLENDALE, Mich. -- After the emotional senior day festivities pregame, on a rain-soaked field, in howling wind, the No. 4 Grand Valley State Lakers persevered with a 3-0 win in a physical match with the Davenport Panthers in the first-ever meeting between the cross-town rivals Sunday afternoon at the GVSU Soccer Field. Seniors Tracey McCoy and Gabriella Mencotti got the Lakers on the board in the first half before Ava Cook provided a second-half tally to ice the win. The Lakers have now won 13 straight matches, 12 via shutout.

McCoy got the game-winner for the Lakers (13-2-0, 7-0-0 GIAC) in the 10' when she found space in front of the net and volleyed home a beautiful cross from Cook in the left wing. It was the fourth goal of the season for the senior, who said her trust in Cook gave her confidence to make the run that led to what proved to be the winning tally.

"Coach had talked to me about getting into the goal more and I knew Ava plays really good balls consistently, so I just tried to give her credit and get on the end of it," said McCoy.

A half-hour into the match the one-goal lead stood until the Lakers were able to capitalize on a free kick. Cecilia Steinwascher delivered a brilliant cross from 40-yards out after a Panthers (7-6-1, 3-4-1) foul to set up Mencotti for a header finish. It was the 21st goal of the year for Mencotti, who has 12 goals in her last five matches. Steinwascher had an assist and three shots taken in the match, but in a chippy, physical match she showed real value from her defensive position.

"Cec was outstanding today," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "She's been really good for us at different times all year, but she put it all together today and that's what you like to see in late October."

Fouls were an issue throughout the entire match. Davenport was whistled for 24 fouls, including three yellow cards, while Grand Valley State committed seven fouls and had one card shown. Davenport's Allison Luurtsema was the first to be cautioned, shown yellow in the 20' before Roheema Bennett was booked in the 38' and Sabrina Stone was hit with a card in the 52'. GVSU's McCoy mistimed a tackle in he 59' to draw a booking of her own. Hosler said he thought there could have been a few more Panthers bookings, considering the high foul count, but felt his team did well to handle the adversity.  

"I thought our team showed a lot of class today," said Hosler. "This was the type of match where you can easily get sucked into retaliation and lose your cool, but we were able to keep our composure and keep playing hard."

Cook gave the Lakers further separation in the 68' when Mencotti slid a pass over to Corey Sawall, who played Cook through for a clean look on target and Cook did the rest, beating the keeper one-on-one. Cook has scored in four straight matches with at least one point in six consecutive contests. 

Jennifer Steinaway was tested twice in net for the Lakers and the senior was up to the task both times. The Lakers out-shot Davenport 18-4 in the match while taking seven corner kicks compared to the Panthers three. Cook, who like Mencotti had both a goal and assist in the match, had five shots on the day to lead all players. 

The Lakers hit the road for their final three regular season matches, heading north to take on Michigan Tech Friday (Oct. 20) at 4:00 PM and Northern Michigan Sunday (Oct. 22) at 1:00 PM before a non-conference bout at Ferris State to end the regular season the following Friday (Oct. 27). Grand Valley State has clinched a home match in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament and are one win away from securing the top spot in the GLIAC, which would give the Lakers the right to host the semi-finals and final match.