Aug. 21, 2007

Allendale, Mich. -- One year removed from a berth in the National Championship game, Grand Valley State University women's soccer team has been placed second in the NCAA preseason rankings. Metropolitan State College of Denver, the team that defeated the Lakers 1-0 in overtime in the National Championship game last season, was picked first once again. West Chester University (Pa.), the University of Tampa (Fla.) and UC San Diego rounded out the top five.

The Lakers are coming off the best season in school history. The team returns 16 players from last year's National Runner-Up roster, including Division II and GLIAC Player of the Year Katy Tafler. In 2006, Tafler (Mississauga, Ontario) set GVSU single-season records for both points (73) and goals (33) She also led Division II in points per game (3.32) and goals per game (1.50).

Grand Valley also returns two all-conference selections in the midfield. Sophomore Katie Johnson (Petoskey, Mich.) was named to the All-GLIAC first team, while junior Meaghan Robinson (Woodstock, Ontario) was named to the All-GLIAC second team. First Team All-GLIAC selections Sue Christenson (Livonia, Mich.) and Kourtney Willert (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) lead a defense that allowed just eight goals all season in 2006. Finally, junior goalkeeper Kristina Nasturzio (Mississauga, Ontario), a Daktronics First Team All-American last season, returns to the net for the Lakers. Nasturzio holds single-season records at GVSU for both goals against average and shutouts.

GVSU, who finished last season with a 19-2-1 record, start their season on Friday, Aug. 24. The Lakers will take on the Colorado School of Mines in Denver, Colo. at 7:00 p.m.