ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship with a 4-0 victory over the McKendree Bearcats Sunday (Nov. 24) afternoon at the GVSU Soccer Field. GVSU improves to 21-1 on the season and will face the region's seven-seed Indianapolis in a neutral site meeting at the highest remaining central region seed on Friday, December 6.
Chantel Carranza provided two goals and an assist to lead the Lakers to victory.
After a few near-misses, Carranza broke through in the 23' when she gathered a loose ball in the box and chipped it over the McKendree keeper. The chances were limited with McKendree playing 11 players behind the ball for much of the day. The go-ahead goal didn't deter the Bearcats from their defensive-minded strategy; they wouldn't take a single shot in the match. The Lakers doubled their lead in the 40' when
Cecilia Steinwascher played a well-angled through ball into the box for
Gianna Parlove to finish off. That 2-0 score line would carry into the halftime locker room.
"McKendree came out with a very deep defensive line today and I thought our girls did a nice job of adjusting to still find dangerous moments," said GVSU head coach
Jeff Hosler. "McKendree has been a defense-first side all year and that can really frustrate teams, but our players did well to keep working to get good looks at goal from a variety of ways."
Out of the break, the Lakers got on the board quickly, forcing a few corners then, off a failed clearance by McKendree, Carranza struck again to further the lead.
Kennedy Bearden would score her first career post-season goal in the 86' after Carranza took an insert from
Sydney O'Donnell and headed it across for the freshman to strike past the Bearcat keeper. The Lakers know they will face Indianapolis on December 6. Once a location and times have been decided, GVSULakers.com and @GVSUSoccer will provide updates.
