ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 9 Grand Valley State Lakers are one win away from returning to the GLIAC Tournament finals for the 11^th straight year. The top seed in the tournament and host of the last two rounds, the Lakers welcome fourth-seeded Tiffin Dragons to the GVSU Soccer Field Friday (Nov. 3) at 5:00 PM in the first semifinal match of the day.
 
The Lakers (16-3-0, 9-0-0 GLIAC) used four second-half goals in their quarterfinal matchup Tuesday to advance past Michigan Tech with a 5-0 win in Allendale. The offensive resurgence is timely, considering GVSU had been averaging just two goals per match over their final four of the regular season. Despite the resurgence Tuesday, head coach Jeff Hosler is still looking for more consistent attacking play headed into the second round.
 
"Offensively we will have to continue to find better efficiency in front of goal.  I would like to see us be more probing and take that additional risk more often before final balls are played or shots are taken," Hosler said.  "We will have to finish with quality in order to score on one of the league's best goalkeepers."
 
The offense was firing on all cylinders when the Lakers faced Tiffin in two matches this season, shutting out the Dragons 9-0 in a non-conference match in Allendale before a 5-0 win at Tiffin in GLIAC play just two weeks later. Despite a pair of lopsided results against their opponent, Hosler says the Dragons are coming in hot and are not to be taken lightly.
 
"This is a team that comes in playing their best soccer and the results to back it up.  They move the ball well and have two of the league's best attacking players. Tiffin created dangerous scoring chances against us on several occasions the last time out," Hosler said.
 
The Dragons escaped in overtime, 3-2, over five-seed Davenport Tuesday, scoring two second-half goals to tie the match before the game-winner in the sixth minute of overtime. Adrianna Currie tied the match with a penalty kick score in the 55' for her team-leading ninth goal of the season before notching an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime when Markella Suka knocked home a rebound to advance the Dragons to Allendale.
 
Tiffin rebounded from the GLIAC loss to the Lakers by winning their last four conference matches of the season to catapult into fourth place in the league and earn home field advantage in the quarterfinals. After allowing a combined 10 goals to the Lakers and Ferris State Bulldogs in one weekend, the Dragons allowed just two goals in those final four matches of conference play. With the potent Lakers offense regaining form and a Tiffin defense that's hit their stride, a fun, competitive match is on tap to determine who will play for the GLIAC Tournament title on Sunday.