MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 2 Grand Valley State Lakers made a statement with a wire-to-wire, dominating win over the No. 25 Indianapolis Greyhounds, 9-0, Friday (Dec. 6) afternoon at the All Sports Complex on the campus of Minnesota State-Mankato. The Lakers improve to 22-1 on the season, pitching their 18
th shutout of the year, and will play the winner of the Central Missouri and Minnesota State Central Region championship in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
The Lakers won their 11
th straight Midwest Region Title with the win. The team also set a new record for goals in a single season, scoring nine on the day to give them 108 for the year and surpassing the previous high of 104 set in 2016.
It didn't take long for the Lakers to jump in front.
Ava Cook took a 3' throw in by
Makenna Schoolman, turned at the top of the box and blistered a shot past the diving keeper to put the Lakers in front. Cook would score again in the 24' when
Caitie Baron lofted a cross from the wing for Cook to head home.
Cook once again forced the issue in the 33', drawing a penalty as she bulldozed through the defense.
Abby Willerer stepped to the spot and converted the PK for her first goal as a Laker to add to the lead. Cook subbed off at the 39' mark for
Hannah Klingerman, who instantly split the defense and scored in the 41' to give GVSU a 4-0 lead at halftime.
It was more of the same out of the break, with the Lakers scoring in the 53' on a volley finish by
Riko Sagara after Willerer lofted a cross in from the touch line. Then
Morgan Cochran scored a pair of goals in a five-minute span at the hour mark. First, she hammered home a rebound from a Cook shot in the 61' then scored again on a loose ball in the box in the 66' to put the Lakers up 7-0. Kenndy Bearden would score on a one-timer from
Darline Radamaker in the 79' before Greta DeLoach rifled home a long-range finish off a through ball from Baron to round out the scoring in the 84' as the Lakers coasted to victory.
GVSULakers.com and @GVSUSoccer on Twitter will provide updates on opponent, time and location as they become available.