COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 1 Grand Valley State Lakers are one win away from a seventh Division II National Championship after a 3-0 win over Lenoir-Rhyne Thursday (Dec. 9) afternoon at Weidener Stadium. The Lakers improve to 23-1-2 on the season and will face the winner of Dallas Baptist and Saint Rose in the championship on Saturday (Dec. 11) at 2 PM ET/12 PM MT.
 
The Lakers wasted no time jumping in front, scoring in the 4' to set the tone. Caitie Baron made a great run down the right wing, carrying possession towards the end line before angling the ball back to the middle of the box, where Kennedy Bearden was able to one-time it off the crossbar and in.
 
The Lakers had a few more chances in the first half, but wouldn't capitalize until the 43' when Sarah Smolinski was able to wedge in from the right wing and roll a ball to the near post for Makenna Schoolman to will past the keeper and double the advantage.
 
With a half-hour to play, Cecilia Steinwascher removed all doubt with an absolute ringer into the corner netting after Mackenzie Jones played her into a good position just outside the box. Kendall Robertson made a pair of saves in the complete-game shutout between the pipes. The Lakers dominated possession and virtually every statistic in the wire-to-wire win that leaves them a win away from the mountain top as repeat champions.