ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers host the McKendree Bearcats in the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals Sunday (Nov. 24) at 1:00 PM at the GVSU Soccer Field. Due to alternating host sites, regardless of result this will be the final match played in Allendale this season. The Lakers are the top seed in the region, beating 8-seed Southern Indiana, 7-1, Friday while the 5-seed Bearcats outlasted 4-seed Ashland, 1-0, in overtime earlier that day.
 
The Lakers offense has reemerged, following the lead of regional player of the year Riko Sagara. She's got 13 assists in her last seven matches and enters Sunday one helper shy of the GVSU all-time record. Ava Cook returned to form Friday as well, scoring twice and adding three assists.
 
"I absolutely love this time of year," Cook said after the match Friday. "We had a great week of training and know that this is do-or-die. So, we have to come ready every single day."
 
"It's been great to see the offense resurge the way it has this time of year," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "Defensively, I'd like to see us a bit more focused as a unit. We've had several players doing great things along the back line, but defense is a group effort and we're going to have to raise that in order to keep advancing."
 
McKendree lost in penalty kicks in the GLVC Tournament final, but has been a defensive juggernaut this season. They've only allowed eight goals all season, just two more than GVSU, and are 16-3-3 on the season. Offensively, no one has more than four goals on the season, but a defensive style will challenge the Lakers and make it imperative to capitalize on limited opportunities.
 
"The finishing touch has been better for us lately, but at times we've struggled to find that final ball this year," said Hosler. "We saw it on Friday in the quarterfinal, if you don't finish off McKendree they will make you pay. We have to be focused on the final strike when it comes and our front line has to be ready to capitalize on chances."
 
The Lakers look to advance to the regional championship and end their home season on a high note, but will have a tough test in the Bearcats on Sunday.