November has arrived, and with it comes the beginning of another postseason for Grand Valley State University’s women’s soccer team.

The Lakers (16-0-2, 15-0 GLIAC) are looking to continue their recent dominance over the GLIAC, after taking their seventh-consecutive conference championship earlier this season with three games left to play.

Winning the GLIAC Tournament this year would mark the third year in a row that the Lakers have won the single-elimination tournament. The tournament began Tuesday with No. 6-seeded Ferris State University visiting No. 3 Ashland University, and No. 5 Tiffin University visiting No. 4 Northern Michigan University in quarterfinal clashes.

The top-seeded teams in the tournament, GVSU and Ohio Dominican University, received byes into the semifinal round of the tournament. Being the overall top overall seed in the tournament, GVSU will meet Tiffin in the semifinals on Friday. GVSU met Tiffin last year in GLIAC Tournament final where they defeated the Dragons 2-0. The Lakers defeated Tiffin 4-0 in their only regular season meeting.

Head coach Dave DiIanni said his team is coming into the post season healthier than it was at times during the regular season. “We’ve got everybody back who’s going to be back (for the tournament),” DiIannisaid. “Kelsey Fiscus, … one of our sophomores
who played a huge role on our team last year, is back practicing with us.”

Fiscus scored her first goal in a Laker uniform last year in the 4-0 GLIAC semifinal win over Findlay University. DiIanni said he feels that the team hit a low spot while on the road this season, but because of excellent team chemistry, they have since recovered — something the players also agree with. “I feel like we’re peaking at the right time,” said Megan Brown, junior defender. “Winning games and scoring a lot of goals helps a lot, especially when we’re all connecting very well. Going into the post season, that’s good for our confidence and we’re in a good spot to keep going.”

Morale is high after the Lakers improved from a one-loss season last year to finishing the GLIAC a perfect 15-0. Many of the players have been here before, helping to add to the team’s morale.

“I think right now we’re excited,” DiIanni said. “We’ve got enough upperclassmen that have played enough big games in the National Tournament. They know what time it is. … We’re getting close to the fun time. That’s what’s motivating the team on.”

Goalkeeper Chelsea Parise has made 45 saves this season, allowed only five goals and has 11 shutouts. “It is no different than what we have been doing the past few months; we are still playing the game of soccer,” Parise said. “The only change is giving everything you have every game because you are not guaranteed anything in the post season. Right now, we are looking to accomplish our next season goal which is winning the GLIAC tournament.”

Brown said there is not any added pressure going into the post season.

“We have to keep working hard, doing what we’re doing and playing well together.”

The Lakers’ first postseason game will be the GLIAC semifinal against Tiffin on Friday at 7 p.m. at the GVSU soccer field.

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