Release courtesy of the GVSU Sports Information Department

GVSU 3, St. Rose 2 (OT) [Box Score]

Tampa, Fla. - The Grand Valley State women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship match with a 3-2 win over #2 Saint Rose on Thursday (Dec. 3) evening. The Lakers return to the National Championship game after being runners-up in 2006. The Lakers will face the winner of CSU Dominguez Hills and West Florida on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1:00 p.m. ET in Tampa, Fla.

Saint Rose attacked early and scored two goals in the opening four minutes of the match. The Lakers fought back and scored a goal of their own at the 4:55 mark. Senior forward Irie Dennis passed it to the right side where junior midfielder Kristen Eible crossed it over to Erin Mruz. Mruz was inside the box and placed the ball in the top right corner of the net for her third goal of the year.

Saint Rose had another opportunity during the 19th minute when Saint Rose headed a ball off of a corner kick but goalkeeper Chelsea Parise was there for the save. GVSU had two good looks at the goal during the first half, but were unable to connect. At 28:49, Dennis came down the right side and crossed it over to freshman Kayla Addison, where Addison just missed the pass. Eight minutes later the Lakers had another opportunity when freshman Alyssa Mira took a shot from 20 yards out which was just wide.

Grand Valley State took five shots in the first half, placing one on goal, while the Golden Knights took seven, placing three on goal.

During the second half at the 50:45 mark, Dennis took a shot from the left side but was just off the hands of goalkeeper Shannon Murphy. Just two minutes later senior defender Amber Bloem tried from the right side but Murphy denied the Lakers and recorded her second save of the match. Murphy recorded her third save when she deflected a shot from Mruz during the 54th minute, remaining the score at 2-1 Saint Rose.

The Lakers added the equalizer at the 82:58 mark when junior forward Jaleen Dingledine recorded her 11th goal of the year. Dingledine came down the right side and took a shot from 10 yards out placing the ball over Murphy's head, tying the score at 2-2 and sending the game into overtime.

During overtime Eible recorded her fifth goal of the year when she received a pass from Dennis and knocked it in giving the Lakers the 3-2 win and advancing them to the NCAA Division II National Championship match.

The Lakers outshot the Golden Knights by a 19-11 margin, including a 9-4 advantage on shots on goal. GVSU advances its record to 21-0-4, while the Lakers handed Saint Rose its first loss of the year (24-1-0).