Nov. 13, 2005

Box Score

Freshman forward Katy Tafler notched her 25th goal of the year as #12-seeded Grand Valley State (19-2, 7-1) captured its first-ever regional championship. GVSU jumped out to a 2-0 first half lead en route to the 2-0 victory over host Northern Kentucky. Tafler's 58 points on the year ties the single-season record. The Lakers will now travel and take on the winner of the Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday, Nov. 20 at noon CT.

Tafler opened up the scoring just 12 minutes into the match when she launched a shot just inside the box that deflected off a defender and into the goal. The Norse answered with a chance of their own eight minutes later as a shot deflected off the crossbar and was cleared by junior Andi Redmond. The Lakers missed a chance of their own at the 27 minute mark when senior Jenny Swalec pushed a shot wide right after she received a corner from senior Mirela Tutundzic.

Swalec redeemed herself when she assisted on GVSU's second goal. Sophomore Susan Chrsitenson took a free kick from near midfield that was headed by Swalec, then headed past the Norse keeper by Tutundzic. The goal moved Tutundzic into a tie for 18th place on the all-time points scored list in NCAA Division II history. The Lakers went into the half up 2-0 after posting three more shots than the Norse (5-2).

Freshman goalkeeper Kristina Nasturzio kept Northern Kentucky out of the net in the second half despite eight Norse shots. Nasturzio recorded her twelfth shutout of the year and her second of the NCAA tournament. Nasturzio has posted an 18-1 record on the year. The Laker defense held their own as they continually thwarted the Norse attack.

With the Grand Valley win it marks the third consecutive season that the host institution has fallen in the Great Lakes Regional final. In 2003, host Grand Valley fell to Northern Kentucky 4-3 and in 2004, host Wisconsin-Parkside fell to Ashland 1-0.

The Lakers will now travel to Omaha, Neb. to take on the Mavericks of Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday, Nov. 20, at noon CT. It marks the first time the Lakers have advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA tournament.