On Nov. 12, Grand Valley State University’s women’s soccer team began postseason play at home with a 1-0 win in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) quarterfinals against the Parkside Rangers. The win ended their three-game tie drought.
The Lakers ended the regular season 11-1-6 and 8-1-5 in the GLIAC conference, securing second place in the GLIAC standings. In the regular season, the Lakers faced Parkside twice, and both games concluded in a win for the Lakers. In the 2023 postseason GLIAC tournament, Parkside defeated GVSU in the semifinal round, 1-0. Despite last year’s game result, the Lakers were eager to treat the 2024 quarterfinal game as a clean slate, and focus on the little details to secure the win.
“The biggest thing was (that) Parkside knocked us out of the tournament last year,” said junior defender Kacy Lauer. “(I’m) going into the game confident today, knowing that we have two wins against this team in the past (regular season), but knowing that it’s not going to be easy. Nothing is ever going to be easy. (We’re) using what happened last year (as) fuel and energy for us to put it (the ball) in the back of the net today.”
Awaiting the quarterfinal game, families and friends bundled up in their blankets, mittens and heavy jackets. Both the Lakers and Rangers adapted to the cool temperatures from the sun’s early evening disappearance. Winning the coin toss, the Lakers began the quarterfinal game with possession of the ball, and kicked off the first half.
In the first 20 minutes of play, Parkside possessed the game and outshot GVSU with five shots, three of which were on goal and required junior goalkeeper Cailynn Junk to save. Trailing the Rangers with only one shot on goal, the Lakers had to adapt to the rhythm of the game. Both teams made substitutions, but GVSU capitalized on the fresh set of legs. Going on a 10 minute possession streak, the Lakers put up three additional shots and two corner-kick opportunities.
The majority of the gameplay was in the neutral zone or midfield. The Lakers spent 61% of possession time in the neutral zone, while the Rangers spent 58%. Trading control in the neutral zone, both teams strategically used the whole field to set up the perfect moment to strike. GVSU’s junior midfielder Sophia Morgan charged down the field, pressuring the goal box, where sophomore forward Alli French gifted freshman forward Kendall Aikens a pass to bury the ball in the bottom right corner of the goal at the 39th minute mark. Aikens gained her second goal of the season, Morgan made her first assist and French added a second assist to her record.
The late goal in the first half cushioned the Lakers, but with two minutes to play, Parkside had a huge breakaway, weaving through two defenders. The Ranger’s Emily Mikkelson placed the ball in the bottom center, forcing Junk to make a crucial last minute save. Using momentum and energy from the past allowed the team to earn the lead in the first half. Concluding the first 45 minutes, the Lakers led 1-0 with a total of eight shots, five of which were on goal.
Parkside kicked off the second half. At the start of the half, both teams made substitutions. GVSU entered the second half aggressively, fouling the Rangers four times in the first 15 minutes of play. The gameplay remained heavily in the neutral zone, as the Lakers spent 59% of possession time in the zone, while the Rangers spent 62%. Trading control, Parkside was able to generate a shot on goal and a corner kick at the 72-minute mark. Junk shut down the opportunity, fighting through the cluster of bodies invading the goal box, and found the ball in her hands. Unable to put the ball in the back of the net, GVSU prioritized possession. In the last five minutes of play, the Lakers strategically used the corner technique, where a player takes the ball to the corner of the field to waste time. The strategy paid off, as the concluding horn radiated throughout GVSU’s soccer field, and announced the Lakers’ win.
Parkside outshot GVSU 13-10, while shots on goal were even at 6-6. Aikens led the lady Lakers with the game-winning goal and freshman defender Vesna Dennison dished out three shots, with two on goal. French had an assist and three shots, with one on goal and Junk made six saves, adding a ninth shutout to the season.
The win against Parkside has advanced the Lakers to the GLIAC semifinals. The team has had many conversations about treating the postseason, also known as “the ring season,” as a new chapter. Head coach Katie Hultin preached the importance of letting go of the past, and focusing on the new chapter of gameplay.
“It’s one game at a time,” said Hultin. “The loser goes home, so we really try to focus minute by minute, shot by shot, tackle by tackle and take care of the little details.”
GVSU’s women’s soccer team currently has five seniors who may conclude their collegiate careers this postseason. Senior midfielder Ryann Fetty noted the rest of the postseason’s games are incredibly important to her and the team’s other seniors.
“We just keep saying ‘do or die, this is it,’” said Fetty. “From here on out, we have our heart set on winning it all. Every game, every next step, everything is 110%.”
