The No. 16 ranked Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team (7-1-3) traveled to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (2-5-3) for their second straight away matchup. The Lakers, coming off their first loss of the season against Davenport University (3-3-4), left Parkside with a 2-0 win.

This was not the first time these teams have competed. GVSU beat the Parkside Rangers 3-0 at home during a previous match this season.

The Laker’s offense started the match by pressuring Parkside with five shots on goal in the first ten minutes of play. Both teams traded shots and fouls throughout the beginning of the match. However, a handball in the box by Parkside turned the game in favor of the Lakers. This set up graduate forward Kennedy Bearden with a penalty kick. With solid ball placement, Bearden scored her third goal of the season and the first goal of the game for the Lakers in the twenty-fifth minute.

“(It was) a great buildup from our backline (that) started the chain of events,” said Bearden. “A handball in the box set me up for the kick, and I put the ball (facing) the way I hoped the goalie wasn’t going to go. I came away with the goal.”

A strong defensive output by the Lakers held Parkside scoreless heading into the half.

Starting the second half, each team would once again pressure their opponent’s defense with back and forth shots on goal. Although the strain was on Parkside to score, a shot into the top left corner of the net in the sixty-seventh minute scored freshman forward Sarah Fromm her second goal of the season, with the assist of graduate forward Taylor Reid.

Junk’s goalkeeping and the Lakers’ defense held Parkside scoreless for the remainder of the 90-minute match.

In the end, GVSU out-shot Parkside 18-10. They also led 6-2 in shots on goal and corner kicks.

GVSU is currently tied for first in the conference with the fewest goals allowed. Junior goalkeeper Cailynn Junk explained the importance of shutting down an opponent’s offense.

“Staying together and not allowing the goals is a whole team effort, and it shows our team’s grit and how strong our backline is,” said Junk. “None of what we do is an individual effort.”

With the team sitting near the top of the conference more than halfway through the season, the Lakers look to keep their momentum high into the future.

“We need to continue to build off of this weekend,” said head coach Katie Hultin. “We have this relentless pursuit of greatness. We will continue to apply what we learn each week and keep building off of that. For the future, we need to take care of the conference, which starts with trying our best to win out the season. We think we are up to the task.”

The team’s players also gave their input on what can be done to maintain success.

“We need to take this one game at a time,” Junk said. “We cannot get complacent, and we need to keep bringing the energy every day at practice.”

Bearden added that translating practice into game performance is of utmost importance.

“The biggest thing is coming out every day and giving it all a 100% effort,” said Bearden. 

The Lakers return home to Allendale for their next match against Roosevelt University (0-5-4) on Friday, Oct. 18.