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GVL/Lindsey Waggoner
Safe catch: GVSU Goalkeeper Kristina Nasturzio protects the ball from an oncoming FSU player while defender Amber Bloem keeps an eye out. Nasturzio kept the ball out of her goal all game Saturday with a 3-0 victory for Grand Valley.

Just perfect, soccer season triumphs

By Matt Kuzawa
10/31/2008

It was all smiles on Saturday for the women's soccer team as it capped off its second straight undefeated regular season.

On a day dedicated to the seniors, the No. 1 ranked Lakers (19-0, 14-0) managed to put their emotions aside and picked up a 3-0 win over Ferris State University.

"We wanted to end the regular season undefeated and being senior day makes it that much more important," said senior forward Katy Tafler. "We've played four great years here. It just makes it that much better that we came out with the win."

Head coach Dave DiIanni said the eight seniors did not play very well at the beginning of the game, which he attributes to the players' thoughts

about the past four years and how their time was coming to an end.

"Sometimes with the senior day they are very emotional and the last thing they are thinking about once they get (on the field) is the game," he said.

Senior forward Ashley Elsass, who along with Tafler has played in more games than any other player in Grand Valley State University history, echoed her coach's thoughts.

"In the first half we were a little nervous because we were uptight about it being our last regular season game and senior day," she said. "It was really emotional."

However, the sadness quickly turned to happiness in the second half when just 33 seconds into the half, senior forward Joyce Rose headed in a feed from another senior, Elena Sobolic.

Sophomore Jaleen Dingledine and senior Ashley Elsass added insurance goals in the victory, both assisted by Tafler.

With four saves in the match, senior goalkeeper Kristina Nasturzio recorded her 12th shutout of the season. Nasturzio's goals-against average in her four years with the Lakers is the second best in Division II history.

During their four year career, the 2008 senior class of eight players has compiled a 78-6-2 record while outscoring opponents 317-34.

DiIanni said this senior class has had an unbelievable career.

"Every year we seem to have an even more special senior class that graduates," he said. "You don't get an idea of how special that group is until you look at that record."

But DiIanni said the record and wins are not as special as how much the players have grown in their past four years at GVSU.

"They came in as girls and now they're women," he said. "That's the most special part. Everything else is just icing on the cake."

Now that the regular season is over, Tafler said the team is excited to start postseason play, and even though going undefeated was nice, it was more important the team was tested by other teams.

"We had to dig deep and pull out a lot of games," she said. "It didn't come easy."

The Lakers will host the GLIAC tournament but received a bye in the first round for being the No. 1 seed. The team will play in the second round semifinal game on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

mkuzawa@lanthorn.com

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