Live Stats Link

Video Link

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The Grand Valley State women's soccer team has faced many teams this season on the path to their seventh consecutive NCAA Division II Semifinal. It's safe to say they'll face their toughest opponent yet on Thursday when they take on Western Washington University at 2 p.m on Thursday in a battle of two very successful squads.
 
Western Washington (21-1-1, 11-0-1 GNAC) is a very tough matchup by any angle. The Vikings are well coached, dangerous on the attack and loaded with talented athletes. The current squad has the most wins in program history (21) and has a veteran roster that includes nine seniors. In many ways, the Vikings stack up very much like the Lakers do.
 
"We are preparing for a very complete team, good on both sides of the ball," GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler said. "They also possess unique challenges with their size and athleticism."
 
Senior forward Catherine Miles leads the Vikings with 13 goals on the season, giving her 45 for her career, while three other Vikings also have scored at least five goals this season, giving the team a balanced and potent approach on offense. 
 
"Our girls have to be committed to being good in the air and disciplined defensively," Hosler said.
 
On the attack, the Lakers suit up the best offensive unit in program history, as the 2015 squad has set a school single season record for goals in one season with 99, which leads the nation by a wide margin. The Lakers have excelled at stretching defenses and creating looks for many players to score on offense. Ten different Lakers have scored at least three goals this season, and the team has scored five or more goals in a program record twelve matches this season.
 
"Maintaining possession and stretching the field will be key. We also need to be patient in the final third and break them down for the best scoring chance possible."
 
Grand Valley has had success this season in peppering opposing goalkeepers with a variety of scoring chances. The Lakers have turned those chances into goals at a remarkably efficient pace, ranking second in the nation in scoring offense with 4.3 goals per game. The next test for this dynamic offense is the very capable goalkeeper in the net for Western Washington, senior Ashley Haden.
 
Haden has been a wall in goal for the Vikings this season, allowing just .42 goals per game on her way to 20 wins, 10 solo shutouts and a very solid 88 percent save rate. It will be up to special attackers like Marti Corby, Kendra Stauffer and Gabriella Mencotti to try and break down that wall in Thursday's matchup.
 
Corby, recently named D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year, has had a stellar campaign for the Lakers, leading the team in goals (24), assists (16) and game winning goals (8). Her 16 assists also leads all of Division II. Her impact on a game is obvious, her role in the offense, pivotal. Surrounding her are a slew of dangerous attackers, and if one chooses to ignore the latter in defending the former, they do so at their own peril.
 
Stauffer has had a breakout year for the Lakers, scoring 14 goals and adding 10 assists. Her flashy moves and breakaway speed were the basis for a highlight reel performance in the game against Northern Michigan on Oct. 18^th, when she scored four goals and added an assist, stealing the spotlight on Senior Day. Her superlative campaign has given the Lakers another dangerous and explosive offensive weapon. Opposite her, Gabriella Mencotti has shown the skill set that netted her a cool 16 goals last season, as she led the team in that category in just her freshman year. She has reach double digit goals for the second year in a row, and has chipped in eight assist for good measure.
 
Defensively, the Lakers will suit up the toughest back line in their region, as the unit anchored by GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year Clare Carlson and Midwest Region First Team center back Katy Woolley look to display the play that has allowed just nine goals this season and is responsible for 16 shutouts. In goal, freshman Emily Maresh will look to record her 13^th shutout of the season, having allowed just eight goals all season and stopping 88 percent of the shots she has faced.
 
The Lakers cannot afford to be out of focus for the Thursday semifinal. A loss there ends the season prematurely, and is not the destination the team has in mind for themselves this season. That would be a repeat, a three-peat, rather, the first in program history.
 
"This team is working towards doing some things that have never been done before in this program and they understand that a win Thursday brings them one step closer to that, " Hosler said. "They are focused, and they are hungry."
 
Experience is always helpful for any team looking to win. Fortunately for the Lakers, that experience has been victory.
 
The semifinal match is set for 2 p.m. Central Time at Ashton Brosnaham Sports Complex in Pensacola, Florida on Thursday, Dec. 3^rd.