In a season dominated by the stars on the Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team, it was an unlikely hero that led the Lakers to the NCAA National Quarterfinals Friday.

Sophomore forward Alyssa Mira, who had totaled only two goals during the entire season, scored two flashy, first-half goals for GVSU in a 3-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Scoring opened in the 18th minute when junior Erin Mruz took a shot that was punched out by Parkside goalkeeper Cassie Glodowski, but Mira headed the rebound into an open net from eight yards out.

Just 14 minutes later Mira struck again, picking the bottom left corner of the net on a shot from outside the box for her second goal of the first half – double her season total.

“I don’t know how long it had been since I scored but to get back on the board, especially in a game like this where we had a lot of pressure, was great,” said Mira. “The first goal she just punched it right to me so I decided I may as well head it in and it went over her. And I’m usually not a selfish player but on that second goal I was dribbling and I just said I was going to shoot, and the keeper wasn’t there.”

GVSU head coach Dave DiIanni said he was not as surprised as some to see Mira come through for the Lakers.

“Alyssa deserved it,” he said. “She hasn’t scored in a long time, and she’s played great, absolutely great. She stepped in when Erin Hilbert went out, so it was good to see her get those two goals today.”

The Lakers found themselves on the defensive for the first ten minutes of the game, with Parkside forward and Midwest Region Player of the Year Shannon Becker missing the left post by inches on a breakaway that could have given the Rangers the lead shortly after the beginning of the game.

But after the early onslaught relented, GVSU controlled the game. The two goals in the first half were especially important for the Lakers, who were playing into a stiff breeze in the first 45 minutes.

“That first goal was huge, we definitely wanted to score early,” said senior Jenna Wenglinksi. “Going against the wind in the first half that’s exactly what we wanted to do – get the lead and then have the wind in the second half so we could feel more comfortable for the rest of the game.”

Keeper Chelsea Parise only had to make one save, a slow roller in the 89th minute. GVSU notched their 14th shutout in 14 games at home, and held the advantage in shots attempted at 21-5.

On top of winning the Midwest Regional Championship, the victory carried some additional significance for the Lakers. Parkside knocked GVSU out of the 2008 NCAA playoffs.

“I definitely think a lot of the girls that were here from 2008 thought of this game as a way to get revenge on this team,” said senior Jenna Wenglinski. “And that’s just what we did.”

GVSU now waits for a Sunday matchup against Fort Lewis College. The Skyhawks come in as the Central Region Champions, touting a 18-2-2 record. The winner of the 1 p.m. matchup advances to the final four in Louisville, Ky.

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