Ferris State Drops Regular-Season Finale To GVSU Under The Lights At Top Taggart FIeld

Big Rapids, Mich. - A couple of early first half goals helped nationally second-ranked Grand Valley State hold off Ferris State in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action on Friday (Oct. 28) night at FSU's Top Taggart Field.

In the regular-season finale, the three-time defending national championships claimed the rivalry win as they scored a pair of goals less than two minutes apart in the first half en route to a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs.

With the setback, Ferris State earned the sixth seed for the upcoming GLIAC Tournament and will visit third-seeded Michigan Tech on Tuesday (Nov. 1) for league quarterfinal-round action with match time set for 2 p.m. (ET) in Houghton. The winner moves on to the GLIAC Semifinals later next week at the site of the highest remaining seed.

GVSU struck first only 10:58 into the tilt under the lights as Gabriella Mencotti recorded her 22nd goal of the year on a header in the box. It was assisted by Kendra Stauffer as the Lakers grabbed the early advantage.

Then, only a minute and a half later, the Lakers added a second goal when Clare Carlson picked up her fourth marker of the year at 12:35 off assists from Marti Corby and Aunika Ortiz. It came via a rebound off a corner kick.

The Lakers stretched their lead to three goals early in the second half as Stauffer found the back of the net on a scramble in the box for her 14th score of the year. The goal at 51:46 was aided by Jayma Martin.

Ferris State cut the deficit back to two goals when Audrey Romine scored in unassisted fashion for her second tally of the season at 66:10 of the second half. Her shot came following a penalty kick by FSU's Jenna Hong that hit the post, resulting in a scramble in front of the Lakers' goal. 

The goal by the Bulldogs was the first allowed by Grand Valley State in GLIAC play this season.

Overall, GVSU outshot FSU 30-12 for the contest and the Lakers earned three of the four corners in the outing. FSU had seven fouls and Grand Valley State finished with six.

The Bulldogs' Grace Kraft played the first 52:34 in net and made five saves before Alison Chesterfield came on and stopped nine Laker shots in 37:26 of work.

Jennifer Steinaway picked up for the win for GVSU in net with five saves in 90 minutes.