PITTSBURGH, Pa. – It all comes down to this. The redemption theme to 2019 has a fitting end as the No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers are set to face the No. 7 Western Washington Vikings on Saturday (Dec. 14) at 12:00 PM at Highmark Stadium. The showdown, and Lakers last hurdle to avenge their loss in this match last season, is a rematch of the 2016 National Title match, when the Lakers fell, 2-3, to the Vikings to end a run of three straight crowns.
 
The tone has been set since December 1 of last year when the clock struck 0:00 on a 0-1 GVSU loss in the National Championship. Since then, the Lakers have had redemption on their minds in a quest to hoist the highest prize in Division II women's soccer. For the first time since the start of the 2009 season, no player on the Laker roster has won a national championship.
 
"Everyone in that locker room was disappointed with the way things ended last year and, I think, that's kind of always been in the backs of the minds of the returners throughout this year; even though we don't really talk about it," said head coach Jeff Hosler. "We've done a lot of great things this season and set some nice records, both individually and as a team, but in these players' minds there is only one true goal."
 
The hunger has fueled a dominant offense, setting the GVSU single-season scoring record and leading the nation in goals-per-game. Ava Cook, who scored in the 3-2 win over Saint Rose on Friday for her ninth goal of the post-season, is the national leader in goals and points. She is one goal away from the 30-mark for the season, which has only been accomplished three times in GVSU history.
 
Chantel Carranza, the GLIAC Freshman of the Year and a second team All-American in her first collegiate season, scored her 23^rd goal of the season Friday to take sole possession of fifth in the nation in the stat. Riko Sagara, the National Player of the Year, became the third Laker this season to reach the 20-goal mark with her game-winner Friday afternoon. She also became the first Laker in history to record both at least 20 goals and 20 assists in a single season.
 
Defensively, the Lakers have just now – 25 games into the season – allowed 10 goals on the year after back-to-back two-goal concessions. Prior to these last two contests, the Lakers had allowed multiple goals in just one match this year; the season-opener. Pitted against some high-powered offenses and opportunistic finishers, as expected at the national stage, the Laker defense that led the nation in goals-against average for much of the season will look to get back to the shutout machine they have been one more time in the biggest match of the season.
 
Western Washington is the very team that overtook the Lakers as the best scoring defense in the nation. They are 23-2 overall, but have not lost since September 25, when they fell, 2-1, at No. 9 Colorado Mines. They blanked No. 3 Flagler, 2-0, in the semifinal Friday to knock off the only remaining undefeated team in any level of NCAA soccer and shut out the team with the second-best scoring average in the nation – behind only the Lakers - entering the weekend.
 
The Lakers have scored multiple goals in 20 straight matches. The Vikings haven't conceded multiple goals in 19 straight matches. Something has got to give.

A defensive-minded side, no player on their roster has reached double-digits in goals this season, but Western Washington has out-scored their opponents 63-8 on the year. Their patience, possession-oriented style and physicality make it very difficult to find dangerous moments against them while their ability to generate and convert set pieces – they've taken 194 corner kicks this year – and overall athleticism allow them to capitalize on their offensive opportunities.
 
There's no need for extra motivation for this one. A chance for redemption for both of the Lakers latest National Championship shortcomings in one fell swoop.
 
And one for the other hand.