The Grand Valley State University Women’s Soccer team opened their season with a crushing home loss against Ashland University and a hard-fought draw against Maryville University, falling to 0-1-1 on the season.

The Lakers took on both teams in Allendale, Mich. at the GVSU Soccer Field. They faced Ashland on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 5 p.m. in a game where the Lakers lost 0-1 while only facing one shot on goal.

GVSU allowed an own goal off of the foot of senior midfielder Mackenzie Jones that could not be stopped by the outstretched leg of junior goalkeeper Kendall Robertson. Lakers’ head coach Katie Hultin did not see the error as completely on one player. 

“I think it was an overall team mistake in the whole scenario in the sequence of things,” Hultin said. “You live and you learn. I can guarantee that probably won’t happen again this season.” 

It was a defensive struggle as the Lakers had just six shots of their own.

“Ashland is a great team, they forced us inside, which is different. We had the ball for the majority of the possession, but I think we just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net today,” said senior forward Taylor Reid.

“It’s always hard to go down a goal. They were really packing it down low. It’s just that final bit that was really hard to get through that final block of defenders,” Hultin said.

Looking to bounce back entering the game against Maryville, both teams were sitting at 0-1 as the Lakers were looking to improve on their loss.

“A lot of it is just work, making sure we are giving our best effort, and playing our game,” Hultin said. “We put together a really, really good first half. We talked a lot about how we need to be a 90-minute team and not a 45-minute team today. I think in the second half we struggled, but we will continue to build off of this weekend.”

Throughout the game, GVSU was hurling balls at the net. Reid took two shots in the first half, with six on the game. The Lakers had seven shots on goal in the first half as the Saints had several key blocked shots, including a save by goalkeeper Gigi Yurevich. With 13 shots in the game, GVSU kept the pressure on.

Just three minutes into the second half, Lakers’ defender Kacy Lauer scored the first goal of the game, unassisted.

“I think we came out strong in the first half. The loss from the game before only fueled our fire and after the first half, it only fueled our fire more,” Lauer said. “My goal happened in the first five minutes. We got the ball. Taylor checked in outside, and I cut it back and kicked it with my left foot.” 

After taking the lead, the Saints were not far behind, scoring only three minutes later to tie the game. Forward Elsa Nilson-Hurtig punched it in for Maryville with an assist by Ashlyne Hunt to make it a 1-1 game, ending in a draw.

As they look to turn a corner offensively, GVSU’s next match is on Sept. 8 against the University of Mary Marauders in Mankato, Minn. at 2 p.m.