ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers hit the road for a pair of key Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contests this weekend. A three-match road stretch to end the regular season begins with a Top-25 showdown for first place in the conference Friday (Nov. 1) against the No. 11 Ashland Eagles at 7:00 PM before the Battle of the Valleys on Sunday (Nov. 3) at Saginaw Valley State at 1:00 PM.
 
GVSU is coming off a tenth straight shutout as they blanked the Ferris State Bulldogs, 7-0, last Sunday. This is the second time in three years, and third overall under sixth-year head coach Jeff Hosler, that the Lakers have pitched ten consecutive clean sheets in a season. The Lakers enter this weekend leading the nation in both scoring average (4.07) and scoring defense (0.214). Ava Cook continues to lead the GLIAC with 16 goals, while Sydney O'Donnell is the reigning GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and Jessica Radice is third in the conference in save percentage (0.864).
 
"Our focus has been on being the best version of ourselves over the last few weeks," said Hosler. "I'm pleased with the recent work ethic and desire I've seen out of the team to get better. That is going to have to continue as we enter this difficult stretch to end the regular season."
 
The Eagles will be the fifth team the Lakers have faced that is ranked in the Top-25 in the United Soccer Coaches national poll. A sixth, Rollins, is now ninth in the country. This week was also the first release of regional rankings for the NCAA Tournament. GVSU is the top seed in the Midwest as of now with undefeated Findlay at second and Ashland third, putting even more weight on this matchup Friday night.
 
The Eagles are 12-1-1 on the season and 6-0 in conference play, having won nine consecutive matches heading into Friday night. Averaging a 0.70 GAA this season, they've conceded just three goals in conference play so far, winning all but one of the six by multiple goals. Last season, the Lakers and Eagles played to a scoreless draw at Ashland in non-conference action. The Lakers would claim 3-0 wins in both home contests in 2018, including the GLIAC Tournament semifinals. Lifetime, the Lakers are 19-3-2 against Ashland, but have not lost to the Eagles since 2005 after starting the series 0-3-1.
 
"Ashland is a really tough place to go and get a result," Hosler said. "They are a veteran and talented side and are playing with a lot of confidence, especially on their home field. This will be a big test for us in all phases."
 
Deijah Swihart is the reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after three goals and an assist last weekend. The senior now has eight goals this season to lead the Eagles. Sophomore Faith Lewis has six goals and three assists and, all-in-all, 13 different Eagles have scored this season. Hannah Lee, their starting goalkeeper, leads the GLIAC in save percentage (0.907) and is second in GAA (0.45) behind only Radice's 0.24. Their balance, ability to attack from the wings and blend of physicality and speed make them a very imposing threat to the Lakers' 14-year GLIAC regular season title streak.
 
Another physical side awaits the Lakers on Sunday when GVSU travels to University Center to take on Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals are 8-5 on the season and sitting just behind the Lakers and Eagles at 5-1 in the GLIAC. The two teams were supposed to play in non-conference action earlier this season in Allendale, but the match was canceled due to lightning. The Cardinals allow just 0.83 goals per game, continuing the trend of tough defensive sides competing this weekend.
 
"Our mental toughness will be tested this weekend and it's a good preview of what post-season will be like," said Hosler. "We will have to be at our best to come out of this weekend with the desired maximum points."
 
Last season it took overtime for the Lakers to down SVSU, 2-1, in Allendale. Cook scored the game-winner a few minutes into overtime to spark her brilliant run down to close out the regular season and into the playoffs last year, where she scored 13 of her 24 goals. This season, a diverse attack sees 13 different Cardinals on the score sheet. Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Watts, who missed the first four matches, has started the last nine and is fourth in the GLIAC in save percentage (0.816).
 
With three of the best defenses in the conference on display this weekend, discipline, attention to detail and capitalization of limited opportunities will all be key for the Lakers if they are to continue their 10-match win/shutout streak and stay atop the GLIAC. It all starts with what should be a playoff atmosphere under the lights in Ashland, Ohio.