A rare Tuesday night matchup pitted the Grand Valley State women’s soccer team against GLIAC conference foe and rival Saginaw Valley State. The Lakers scored three goals in the first 11 minutes of play and never looked back as they defeated the Cardinals 6-1.

GVSU was once again led by Marti Corby, the reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week. After scoring five goals in two games last weekend, Corby earned another hat trick in Tuesday night’s match.

“I’m just following the game plan,” Corby said. “The forwards cross the ball in, and my job is to finish it off and get our team rolling.”

Corby wasn’t the only player with stats in threes. Junior forward Jayma Martin added three assists to complement Corby’s three goals. Martin was flying around the field as she delivered solid crossing passes throughout the game.

“I’ve just been doing what coach has been telling me,” Martin said. “I got up the line and got two assists off crosses.”

GVSU controlled The Battle of the Valleys from start to finish. The Lakers’ early flurry of goals began three minutes into the game when Corby connected with a ball that rebounded off the left post. Six minutes later, Corby added to her first goal with another.

At the edge of the box, Corby struck the ball while turning around and it sailed over the keeper’s head for her second goal with a flourish.

GVSU wasn’t done just yet. Two minutes after Corby’s second goal, junior forward Kendra Stauffer got in on the act as she tipped a crossing pass from Martin into the net to fool the keeper. Stauffer’s third goal of the season gave GVSU a 3-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the game.

“Scoring three goals in 10 minutes is a dream start,” said GVSU head coach Jeff Hosler. “The game becomes a lot easier when you are aggressive.”

Later in the half, the Cardinals were able to score off a free kick from midfield due to some miscommunication from the back line of the Lakers. As Hosler put it, “It looked like Quincy all over again.”

That one goal, however, was all SVSU was able to salvage from the match. After Corby’s hat trick goal late in the second half, the Lakers continued to take it to the Cardinals in the second half.

About two minutes into the half, senior Katie Klunder scored off of Martin’s third assist. The Lakers added one more goal late in the second half from junior midfielder Gabbie Guibord.

GVSU once again controlled its opponent on the shot chart, outshooting the Cardinals 25-6. Freshman goalkeeper Emily Maresh did not earn the shutout, but did make two key saves down the stretch.

After dropping its season opener, GVSU has won six straight matches. The Lakers have combined to score 30 goals on the season and have only allowed six goals. After Corby’s three-goal performance, she has 11 goals on the season after having 12 all of last year.

“Marti is just Marti,” Hosler said. “She knows where to be and when to be there.”

The Lakers continue the short week as they face conference opponents Tiffin and Malone. The Lakers meet Tiffin at home on Sept. 25 night and travel to Canton, Ohio to take on Malone Sept. 27.