Grand Valley State University’s women’s soccer team kicked off their run in the National Collegiate Athletic Association with a commanding performance on Friday, Nov. 20 against the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Beating the Tritons 2-0, the Lakers played in St. Louis, showcasing their dominance– proving why they are ranked number 19 in the nation.

Prior to their matchup with UMSL, the Lakers kept an impressive 12-1-7 record. The Lakers kept their opponents on high alert all season with a commendable offensive and defensive presence. However, on Nov. 20, forward Ryan Shepherd believed the key to the Lakers’ victory was to be found in the game’s mental aspects.

“The most important factor for securing a win is not defensively or offensively, but rather mentally,” said Shepherd. “To dominate defensively and offensively, we have to have a positive mindset and that grit. Our team is also huge on energy and communication, so (we are) definitely making sure, on and off the bench, (that) we are bringing the energy and communicating the entire game.”

From the first whistle, the Lakers meant business, asserting dominance over the Tritons with a combination of a solid defense and aggressive, offensive pressure. Throughout the half, the Lakers kept the Tritons on their heels. As the game progressed, the Lakers applied pressure on the Tritons, opening the door to score. GVSU’s Kendall Akins pushed through the Tritons’ defense, and rifled the ball into the net with the help of Alli French.

With the tone set early by the Lakers, USML was forced onto the defensive. Despite the Lakers opening multiple opportunities to score, the Tritons’ goalie, Mary Kate Neal, was an iron wall.

The Lakers continued to press the Tritons, opening multiple opportunities to score, while also maintaining a tight defense. The rest of the first period, the Lakers maintained control of the field with a score of 1-0.

In the second half, the Lakers wasted no time, and applied immediate pressure onto the Tritons. Only 10 minutes in, GVSU’s Taylor Reid stepped up and slotted the ball into the net, which furthered the Lakers’ lead.

Following Reid’s goal, the pressure was high for the Tritons, who had to step up if they wanted to bridge the scoring gap. Despite the Tritons’ best efforts to catch up, they struggled to find the net. The Lakers’ defense was anchored down by denying the Tritons any relief.

While USML did manage to take a few shots at the goal, the Lakers’ defense held strong. By the end of the match, the Tritons were unable to close the gap.

“Our team is truly one of a kind,” said Shepherd. “The bond we all share (with) each other is something like no other. High-pressure tournaments are no competition to our unity. If anything, (tournaments) get to show unity being one of our strengths. This tournament being high pressure just translates to an even better feeling when we win.”