ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers, GLIAC regular season champions, will host the final two rounds of the conference tournament this weekend, beginning with their semifinal showdown against Ferris State on Friday (Nov. 15) at 5:00 PM. The winner of that match will play the winner of the other semifinal, between Saginaw Valley and Ashland, on Sunday in the championship.
 
The top-seeded Lakers had their 13-match shutout streak snapped in the GLIAC Quarterfinals despite a lopsided 5-1 win over Northern Michigan. GVSU made history becoming the first team in GLIAC history to sweep through the conference schedule without allowing a single goal. The Lakers are on a 14-match winning streak, including a 7-0 win over their upcoming opponent FSU in that run. The outstanding regular season led to ten All-GLIAC selections and four major conference awards (see story).
 
"We certainly had some learning moments in that win on Sunday. I hope that the goal we allowed is a wake-up call to the team that we have to be at our very best for 90 minutes each and every match," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "I'm proud of the way we performed in the regular season and our girls are deserving of all the recognition they've received. But it's time to refocus on the day because that is what has led to our regular season success and improvement throughout the year."
 
Ferris State has their season on the line entering the weekend. Currently, they sit in ninth place in the NCAA Midwest Region; on the outside-looking-in of the national tournament by one spot. There is always a chance they get in even with a loss on Friday, but a win would concretely bolster their resume for a spot in the eight-team regional tournament. Last year the Lakers ended the Bulldogs season with a 2-1 win in the Midwest Region Championship. Another win by GVSU could make things very difficult for Ferris to see the field again this year, although they won't know their fate until Monday's (Nov. 18) selection show at 6:00 PM.
 
The Bulldogs played Northwood three times in an eight-day stretch; winning two of the three, including a 6-0 win over the Timberwolves in the GLIAC Quarterfinals. Ferris State is 13-4-2 overall, including a 5-3-1 conference mark. Friday marks the first time the Bulldogs will face a team besides Northwood since October 27; when they played the Lakers.
 
The Bulldogs have four all-conference selections, including three on the first team. Sophomore forward Pia Nagel is a first team All-GLIAC selection as a forward with 13 goals and seven assists this season. Bri Rogers earned first team as a midfielder and Tia Vansuilichem is a first team defender. Mackenzie Dawes also earned GLIAC honors as a second team forward and Maddie Dickens was honorable mention.
 
"This is a Ferris team with real talent and depth along all three lines," said Hosler. "The bulldogs will be fighting for their post-season lives and will throw everything they have at us. Their supporters travel very well and the atmosphere should be intense. We have to be ready to play a complete game in all phases."
 
The Lakers are seeking a 13^th straight GLIAC Tournament title. GVSU has never lost a GLIAC Tournament contest, having won each championship since the tournament model was adopted in 2007. A hungry team, loaded with talent, with a lot to prove stands in their way. All this should make for an interesting showdown come Friday even