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Tournament Central
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The top-ranked GVSU Lakers look to put an exclamation point on a decade of dominance as they host the No. 13 Ferris State Bulldogs Friday (Nov. 16) in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship at 2:00 PM. Grand Valley State has won nine consecutive Midwest Region crowns, entering this year's title match 22-0-1 on the year. The Bulldogs are making their first appearance in the Sweet 16 in program history, sitting 17-3-3 on the year.
The Lakers have beaten the Bulldogs twice this season. A 2-1 double overtime win in Big Rapids back on October 19 clinched the 14
th consecutive GLIAC regular season championship for the Lakers before a dominating 4-0 score line in the GLIAC Tournament championship match for a 12
th straight crown. A third win will clinch the Midwest Region title and a tenth straight appearance in the National quarterfinals.
"We've had a great week of preparations and the girls are excited for Friday. They've worked really hard all season to earn this opportunity to host the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament and look forward to seeing the great support continue from Laker nation," said GVSU head coach
Jeff Hosler.
GVSU has regained their offensive prowess this post-season, outscoring their opponents a combined 25-1 between the GLIAC and NCAA Tournaments.
Ava Cook has led the charge, scoring in every post-season match this year, with eight goals in these playoffs. She punctuated that effort with her first hat-trick of the season Friday in the Lakers 5-0 win over Walsh to advance to the second weekend of NCAA Tournament play. Seven different Lakers scored in the NCAA opener against Rockhurst, proving the depth of talent with the likes of
Madeline Becker,
Raemi DeWent,
Caitie Baron,
Timia Robinson,
Corey Sawall and the whole host of contributors on the front line.
"This group understands that we are only as good as our execution and our recent form is evidence of that. At this time of year, every play matters," Hosler said.
It hasn't just been the forwards contributing to the attack. The phenomenal play of newcomer and national assist leader
Riko Sagara, emerging freshman
Darline Radamaker and brilliant effort from senior
Tara Lierman in the midfield has been massive for the surging Lakers.
Chelsea Graves,
Lauren Ross and
Haley Dehaan have provided a level of play that allows for fresh legs without missing a beat.
Defensively,
Cecilia Steinwascher and
Olivia Trombley have been a stalwart backstop at center back while
Hailey Wentzloff has steadily grown into a lockdown defender in her freshman year.
Sydney O'Donnell's pace from the back line and ability to win balls on the other side have made her nearly impossible to beat from the wing, while also providing some offense of her own.
Caitlin Rebera and
Lindsay Ebeling have been playing the best soccer of their careers in 2018.
Jessica Radice, who's started every game in net for the Lakers this season, has allowed just five goals in her sophomore campaign and holds a brilliant .232 goals against average, good enough for 2
nd best in the country.
Ferris State blanked McKendree, 2-0, and Ohio Valley, 1-0, in the opening weekend. Pia Nagel's 10 goals lead the Ferris attack while Carley Dubbert has eight goals and Bri Rogers has six. Dubbert leads the team with seven assists. The Bulldogs have scored 49 goals on the season as a team, tied for 21
st in the nation, while the Lakers 88 goals are only one behind Salem (WV) for the overall national lead.
GVSU has already proven to be successful in third meetings with the same team this year, beating Ashland 3-0 in the GLIAC semifinals in the third matchup of the season. If they can find similar success Friday, they will be able to celebrate a decade of domination in the Midwest region and find themselves one win away from the Final Four.
