MANKATO, Minn. – The Grand Valley State women's soccer team claimed the Midwest regional championship for the 17^th time in program history last weekend to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. The Lakers will take on Minnesota State in Mankato, Minnesota for a chance to advance to the final four. 
 
GVSU defeated Drury 2-0 in the Midwest regional championship game. The Lakers improved to 15-1-7 on the season. GVSU is 13-3 all-time in the Elite Eight round and are 66-12-8 all-time in the NCAA tournament.
 
The Lakers are 3-0 in the NCAA tournament with all three wins being shutouts. The only other times GVSU did not concede a goal through the first three games of NCAA tournament was in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
 
Goalkeeper Cailynn Junk has a key contributor for GVSU all season. The GLIAC goalkeeper of the year has made 18 saves in the three NCAA tournament games. Junk stopped a career high eight saves in both wins against Missouri – St. Louis and Maryville. The junior ranks fourth in the country with a .901 save percentage and is tied for fifth with 12 individual shutouts.
 
Offensively, Taylor Reid has led the Lakers with five points in the NCAA tournament. Reid dished out the game-winning assists in the wins over Maryville and Drury. The senior also scored in the first-round win against Missouri – St. Louis. 
 
Senior Ryann Fetty leads GVSU with four goals and four assist for 12 points. Reid also has 12 points on the season with two goals and a team leading eight assists. Emma Chudik and Alli French each have four goals and three assists for 11 points on the year. All-region defenders Kacy Lauer and Daan Louwerse lead a stout Laker defense in minutes played. 
 
This will be the 14^th overall meeting between GVSU and Minnesota State. The Lakers lead the all-time series with a 7-3-3 record. The two programs have seen each other twice in the NCAA tournament with both appearances being in the Elite Eight. GVSU advanced in 2012 after a 1-1 tie, winning a penalty kick shootout 5-4. Most recently, GVSU defeated Minnesota State 5-2 in 2019 in Mankato, Minnesota. 
 
Minnesota State claimed their third Central region championship in program history after defeating Central Missouri 1-0 in double overtime. The Mavericks improved 17-1-6 on the season and are looking to advance to their first final four in program history. 
 
The Mavericks have the number one ranked defense in Division II allowing just five goals all season. Goalkeeper Lucy Weninger was named the NSIC defensive player of the year having started in all 24 games for the Mavericks this season.
 
Goalkeeper Clare Longueville ranks first in the country with a .946 save percentage, second with a 0.182 goals-against average, and third with 13 individual shutouts. Maddix Archer leads Minnesota State in scoring with nine goals and eight assists for 26 points. Addison Clarey has notched 20 points on the season with eight goals and four assists.
 
The winner of tomorrow's Elite Eight matchup will advance to the Final Four in Matthews, North Carolina on Friday, December 13^th. The game will be streamed live on the NSIC Network. Visit gvsulakers.com for links to live stats and live video.