Live Coverage
Northwood (Fri. Oct. 25): LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
Ferris State (Sun. Oct. 27): LIVE STATS | ESPN3

ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 3 Grand Valley State Lakers play host to two GLIAC foes during Homecoming weekend on campus as they welcome the Northwood Timberwolves on Friday (Oct. 25) at 7:00 PM and the Ferris State Bulldogs on Sunday (Oct. 27) at 1:00 PM at the GVSU Soccer Field. Friday will be the final Friday Nights Under the Lights night of the year with food, prizes and fireworks, while Sunday is alumni day and celebrates the 2009 National Championship team's tenth anniversary.
 
Grand Valley State has posted ten shutouts this season, including eight in a row, and have gone 721 consecutive minutes without conceding. The effort is good for third in Division II in goals against average (0.25), having conceded just three times through 12 matches. On the offensive side, GVSU leads the nation in scoring average (3.92). Ava Cook ranks fourth in the country with 15 goals while reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Chantel Carranza, has chipped in 10. Riko Sagara is second in the nation with 10 assists as well.
 
"We've been really good for stretches in all of our matches recently, but we're yet to put together a complete 90 minutes," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "As we near the end of the regular season, and get ready for some tough competition down the stretch, that has become our main focus."
 
GVSU has already faced Northwood this season, earning a 5-0 win in non-conference action in Midland, Michigan. Five different Lakers scored, all in the first half, and GVSU did not allow a single shot in the win earlier this season. But both meetings with the Timberwolves were 1-0 results last year, coming down to the final minutes in the contest in Allendale. Historically, the Lakers are a perfect 25-0 against Northwood lifetime.
 
Northwood beat Purdue Northwest, 3-0, last Friday before a 3-2 overtime win over Parkside. The weekend sweep improved the Timberwolves to 8-5 overall and 4-2 in the GLIAC. Freshman Juliana Paoletti is making a case for GLIAC Freshman of the Year with eight goals and an assist this season while Karina Parker and Jessica Piper each have three scores.
 
"We scored early in that game at their place this year and that really helped us set the tone. Northwood is a physical and tenacious team, so if we don't get to them early things could be more difficult for us this time around," Hosler said.
 
Ferris State came into the season with perhaps their greatest expectations in program history. After their deepest post-season run ever, a United Soccer Coaches preseason top-25 ranking had the Bulldogs teeming with confidence. So far, the only team to beat them is Ashland, who has done so twice this year, but FSU has compiled an impressive 11-2-1 record and are, to this point, playing at the expected high level under a new head coach.
 
Sophomore Pia Nagel has led the offense, scoring 11 goals to rank second in the GLIAC. Junior Mackenzie Dawes has scored six times and dished six assists and Junior Bri Rodgers has five goals and six assists. As a team, the Bulldogs have 35 assists on their 38 goals scored this season.

"Ferris plays very well in transition and is a team that can be dangerous at a moment's notice," Hosler said. "We played them three times last season and had some tense moments. The crowd should be awesome, they will be emotionally and physically ready for this match and we will have to be as well."
 
The final two home regular season matches in Allendale come during Homecoming weekend. With Shannon Carrier, a former GVSU soccer star, going into the Hall of Fame this weekend, the ten-year anniversary of the 2009 National Championship team and Alumni Day on Sunday, there will be a great atmosphere at the GVSU Soccer Field this weekend.