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GLIAC Tournament Central
ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 1 Grand Valley State Lakers will host two-seed Ferris State in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship match on Sunday, November 4, at 1:00 PM at the GVSU Soccer Field. The Lakers topped fifth-seed Ashland, 3-0, Friday while Ferris State edged three-seed Saginaw Valley in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw in the semi-final round in Allendale Friday night.
The Lakers got a road win over Ferris State in the first meeting of the 2018, 2-1, in double overtime. That match is the only time GVSU has trailed this season, a deficit that lasted six minutes before Cecilia Steinwascher used a penalty kick to equalize the match before her corner insert set up Haley Dehaan for the golden goal game-winner in the second overtime in Big Rapids, Michigan.
"We're excited for this challenge and know that it will take great focus, execution and composure in order to ensure we have success," said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler. "We dominated possession the last time we played, but will have to be more dangerous with it this time around."
The 19-0-1 Lakers are currently the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region while Ferris State, sitting at 15-2-3, sits as the two-seed. The selection show is set for Monday, November 5, after conference tournaments wrap up around Division II on Sunday. A win by the Lakers all but guarantees the top spot while a loss would leave room for doubt prior to the final rankings. Both of the top two seeds host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Ava Cook scored a pair of goals in the Lakers win over Ashland, giving her a GLIAC-best 16 goals and 37 points on the season. Cook has exploded for five goals and 12 points over the last three matches to help the Lakers regain their offensive spark. National assist leader Riko Sagara has also returned to form, dishing out four assists in her last three matches after just one in the previous six.
Both the Bulldogs losses have come in double overtime this season, including the match with GVSU in mid-October and the season opener against Missouri-St. Louis. The Bulldogs are tied for the second-most goals scored in the league, 26 behind the Lakers, led by Pia Nagel's nine goals. The freshman has been held scoreless in the last four matches, with her last goal coming against the Lakers on October 19. Carley Dubbert has added eight goals herself, two of 14 different players to score for Ferris State this season. Add in three different players with six assists each and Ferris brings another balanced attack that will challenge the Lakers stout defense.
With the top two teams in the region clashing Sunday, the Lakers look for a 12th straight GLIAC Tournament championship. The Lakers first win over Ferris clinched a 14th straight regular season title and they'd relish the opportunity to celebrate another league championship on their home field. With the GLIAC as strong as it's ever been, if the Lakers can get a win and earn a sweep of the GLIAC championships in 2018 – and an undefeated season heading into the NCAA Tournament – would prove the prowess of this young GVSU squad.
