The Grand Valley State soccer team swept the weekend series against the Ohio Dominican Panthers Friday, Oct. 14 and the Findlay Oilers Sunday, Oct. 16. The Lakers (13-1-1) cruised to a 3-0 victory against the Panthers and followed it up with a 11-0 shutout over the Oilers.

The Lakers celebrated senior day in style with 11 goals against Findlay. Senior Kendra Stauffer notched a goal and senior Jayma Martin recorded a hat trick. Marti Corby, a senior, also assisted on four of GVSU’s goals.

“Marti was great with playing and slipping in balls, especially to me she played amazing balls,” said GVSU forward Gabriella Mencotti.

On a day for the seniors, junior Gabriella Mencotti provided the most offense out of the bunch. Gabriella Mencotti torched the Oilers for five goals, and that was just in the first half. She did not see action in the second half, but 45 minutes was all she needed to set a GVSU record for most goals in a single game and tie the GLIAC record for most goals in a conference game.

Gabriella Mencotti would have stolen the show if it was not for her sister, Alexis Mencotti. For the first time this season, Alexis Mencotti started a game for the Lakers after battling injuries all season.

“Today was really important that (Alexis Mencotti) get a start and have the opportunity to get back on the game field one more time,” Hosler said. “It was also important for the team that she gets on the field because she does so much for our group.”

The senior defender took the field in an unfamiliar position, as a forward. At one point, she almost had a breakaway opportunity if it wasn’t for a Findlay defender clearing the ball. After three minutes of play, Alexis Mencotti was substituted out, but not before she was bombarded with hugs from the team.

“I know she was nervous on where to go, but it was super fun,” Gabriella Mencotti said. “That’s a moment I will keep with me for a long time.”

After the show put on by the Lakers in the first half, freshman Charley Campbell scored two goals in the second half to put the game well out of reach.

While the Lakers dominated in Sunday’s game against Findlay, the game against Ohio Dominican was a different story. GVSU struggled to capitalize on offensive opportunities, especially in the first half.

The Lakers scored a goal early in the game. Corby played a long lob pass to Gabriella Mencotti, who gathered the ball and crossed it to Stauffer for the easy finish.

After the first goal, the Lakers struggled to find the back of the net and were held scoreless for the rest of the half.

“ODU came out very aggressive, very high press from the opening whistle, and to be fair, I don’t know if (we) have been in a lot of soccer games against opponents that high press as often as they did,” Hosler said. “They did it so clean and so effectively within the rules of the game.”

In the second half, GVSU found the scoring touch that was vacant after that first goal. Gabriella Mencotti fired a ball into the right side of the net from the top of the box, and Martin scored later in the half on a turnaround shot close to the net.

“We knew we had those opportunities, and us not finishing, we knew we had to keep going to get something on goal,” Martin said.

The three goals were more than enough for the GVSU defense, who recorded another shutout on the year.

With only three regular-season games left, the Lakers will host Northwood Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and travel to rival Saginaw Valley State Sunday, Oct. 23 for a noon game.