Courtesy of Kevin Meyer, Grand Valley State Sports Information Graduate Assistant
PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Grand Valley State women's soccer team had one goal at the start of this season, and that was bringing home the national championship for the third straight season. On a beautiful sunny day in Pensacola, Florida, the team accomplished that goal by defeated #3 Columbus State by a score of 2-0.
"Columbus State was a great, great opponent. They really put up a lot of pressure today, and really made us earn it for sure. Great opponent today in Columbus State, I couldn't be more proud of our girls getting the job done," said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler.
The Lakers struck first just 13 minutes into the first half. Junior midfielder Marti Corby was brought down by a Columbus State defender just a hair outside the box, earning a free kick for the Lakers. After lining up her shot, Corby hit an absolute gem of a free kick past the wall of defenders and to the right of Cougar keeper Maylyn Parsons for her 25th goal of the season, giving the Lakers the early 1-0 lead.
Just six minute later, the Cougars threatened with heavy pressure down the left side of the field, a Cougar cross found Cougar midfielder Cassadra Wade for a one timer, but the shot was off target and sailed high and away.
The Lakers would get good movement towards the goal with a cross at 10 minutes left in the half by Gabriella Mencotti, but her pass over to Sam Riga was broken up by the Cougar goalkeeper before Riga could attempt a shot.
With six minutes left in the half, CSU would get a free kick award off a Laker foul. The ball in by Cougar midfielder Taylor Marks was knocked away by a Grand Valley defender, ending the threat and keeping the Laker lead. The Laker defense ended another Cougar threat with just under three minutes to play,
With just over a minute left in the first half, a Cougar defensive error led to a goal by senior Katie Bounds, as the forward collected a ball nearby two defenders, took a dribble and faked out Parsons to dive to the right before firing a shot into the goal to the right side of the goal from 17 yards out. The goal would carry the Lakers into the break with a 2-0 lead, having scored on the only two shots on goal they took in the half.
Opening up the second half with strong offensive pressure, the Lakers threatened just three minutes in, as a through ball to Katie Klunder prompted Parsons to charge out of her goal. Parsons did not make the save cleanly, but Klunder's pursuit after the loose ball was fruitless, as the momentum carried the ball out of bounds for a goal kick.
The Lakers would next threaten at the 34th minute mark, as Marti Corby fired a shot on goal, which Parsons knocked over the cross bar for a Grand Valley corner kick. After earning another corner kick, Marti Corby's ball in deflected off a Cougars defender for an own goal, but a foul on the Lakers prompted the officials to call off the goal and award the Cougars the ball for a goal kick.
With 31 minutes remaining in the second half, the Cougars appeared to get on the board, only to have it also called off, this time because of an offsides. A free kick was awarded off of a Laker foul about 40 yards from goal. The ball played in resulted in two shots, the first loosely saved by Lakers goalkeeper Emily Maresh, the second shot low into the net off of the rebound. That shot was deemed to be by an offsides attacker, and the goal was called off.
The Lakers were a model of offensive efficiency. Despite being outshot for the first time all season, 12-10, the Lakers scored on their first two shots on goal, and managed better offensive looks throughout the contest. Marti Corby scored on a textbook shot off of a set piece free kick, and later fed a ball in to a streaking Katie Bounds, who finished with a flourish for her sixth goal of the season.
Looking to add to the total late in the second half, both Kendra Stauffer and Jayma Martingot off great looks at goal, with 19 and 17 minutes remaining, respectively. Stauffer dazzled with breakaway speed in the 19th minute, streaking past her defender to her right side before firing a strike to the far side of goal. With the shot out of range of the goalkeeper, it was only the shot being a few inches wide that saved the goal for the Cougars. Two minutes later, Martin traversed the defense and fired a 20 yard strike to the goal, prompting Parson to make a leaping save to keep a third goal out of net.
On the other side of the ball, freshman Emily Maresh was having herself a game in net, continuing her torrid play in the postseason. She made a pivotal save off of a free kick with 13 minutes left in the game, rising above a crowd of CSU attackers to corral the ball and make one of her four saves in the game.
The defense for Grand Valley did the rest, shutting down every Columbus State run as the remaining second half time ran down. As the clock hit zero, the Lakers defense had earned a hard fought shutout of the 2nd highest scoring offense in the nation.
"Defensively we were really good," Hosler said. "Columbus State did a god job of breaking us down, but our girls did a good job of staying with out marks. I thought we were as physical in our back line as we've been all year, and I think we really watched Emily Mareshgrow up over these past couple of weeks as well."
The title is the third consecutive title in a row for the Lakers, having won in both the 2013 and 2014 seasons. It is also the fifth national championship in program history, tying Franklin Pierce for the most all time among Division II schools. It is also the second national title won under the leadership of Jeff Hosler in as many years at the helm. The Lakers finish the season at 23-1-1, having scored 104 goals on the season as a team and shutting out 17 opponents as a team. It is also the third straight NCAA Championship shutout for the Lakers, having shut out West Florida in 2013 and Rollins in 2014.
Additional Quotes
"It's been awesome, it's super cool that we get to do this as a team, and as a senior, it's great to go out on a win,"senior Katy Woolley said.
"I can say that nothing means more to me than this moment with this group of girls. It's a different journey every year to come to the Final Four, and I wouldn't change it for the world, and I wouldn't change any girl," senior Katie Bounds said.
"We train hard every day to get better one day as a time, and we all have that collective goal as a team, and it helps us. We're like a family, really," said junior Marti Corby.
"The girls were well aware of what was at stake today. There hasn't been a three-peat, there hasn't been a three time national champion, and I know our girls cherish each and every win they get, each championship that they win along the way," said Hosler.
"We found enough of a full 90 effort to get it done today. I think the biggest thing that I can't stress enough is how we came out in the second half. A lot of teams come out up two goals and let the game settle and the game gets taken to them, whereas I thought we were the more aggressive team and set the tone that way," Hosler said.
"That's what we come to Grand Valley to do, is to get here and win national championships. As a sophomore, I hve a lot of girls to look up to, on and off the field, and one thing that I harp on all the time is our team chemistry to get us through each and every day days, good day and bad days," said sophomore Dani Johnson.
