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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The No. 1 Grand Valley State Lakers are set to compete in the NCAA National Semifinals this Thursday (Nov. 29) at 8:00 PM against the four-seed Lee University Flames at Highmark Stadium. The Lakers, representing the Midwest Region, are 24-0-1 on the year while the South Region Flames enter the match 17-6-1 on the season. This is the ninth Final Four appearance in the last ten seasons for GVSU.
This matchup pits the Nation's best offense in GVSU against a defense that has found their form late in 2018, with the Flames allowing just two goals thus far in the NCAA Tournament. GVSU has scored a national-best 96 goals this year, with 17 different Lakers finding the scoresheet. Three Lakers have scored in double figures, led by All-American
Ava Cook's 23 goals.
Speaking of coming on strong in the post-season, Cook has taken her game to a new level at the perfect time. After 13 goals in the regular season, her 10 in the playoffs have reignited the vaunted Laker attack.
Riko Sagara, the D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year, leads the nation with 22 assists. While Lee's defense has turned heads in the playoffs, the Laker defense has been stout all season, allowing just eight goals this year.
Lee has been the definition of survive and advance this post-season. Their first three wins in the NCAA Tournament all came in overtime, including a win over No. 2 West Florida. By downing the Argonauts, Lee earned the right to host the South Region semifinal and Elite 8, where they topped Mississippi College, 2-1, in double overtime for the regional crown then shocked No. 3 Columbus State, 1-0, in the quarterfinals. Both West Florida and Columbus State had been previously undefeated. Now, the Flames have their sites on handing the Lakers their first loss of the year.
Lee, who recently made the jump from the NAIA ranks to Division II, is making their first appearance in the Final Four. They have had immediate success in transitioning, having qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all four years they've been eligible since becoming a full-fledged member of Division II in 2015. They and fourth-year head coach Chris Hennessey are brimming with confidence as they aim to continue their historic run.
The Flames have conceded just 25 goals this season, while the offense – which ranks 13
th in the nation with 58 goals – has been led by Mia Hollingsworth and her 14 goals and six assists. Kelsey Yoder has also added 10 goals and an assist on the year. Defensively, the key has been goalkeeper Taylor Green, who has made 110 saves this year and posts a 0.815 save percentage, helping the Flames to a .998 goals against average on the year.
If the Lakers' red-hot offense can scorch the stout Flame defense and earn a win in the National Semifinals, the team will be one win away from the program's sixth National Title. The winner of GVSU and Lee will face the victor of 2-seed UC San Diego and 3-seed Bridgeport in the National Championship match on Saturday (Dec. 1) at Highmark Stadium at 3:00 PM.
