Nov. 4, 2007

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - The Mercyhurst College women's soccer team lost to unbeaten and No. 1 Grand Valley State for the second time this year, dropping a 4-0 decision Sunday in the first GLIAC Championship Game.

Two of Mercyhurst's four losses this year have come in identical 4-0 scores against Grand Valley. The other two losses were both decided by just one goal.

Grand Valley State scored twice in each half, opening the contest with a Jenna Wenglinski score just 4:32 into the match. Erika Pitroff gave her team a 2-0 cushion just before the half, while Kristen Eible and Natalja Stanski scored less than four minutes apart in the second half.

Mercyhurst, now 14-4-2 on the season, did keep GLIAC Player of the Year Katy Tafler without a point for just the third time this year, but the top team in the country had other players step up. For Wenglinski and Stanski, it was their first goals of the year, while Pitroff's score was just her second.

Grand Valley State held a 19-7 advantage in shots, including 12-3 in shots on goal. GVSU also had an 8-3 edge in corner kicks.

Mercyhurst is the last team to defeat Grand Valley State in a non-NCAA Playoff game, beating the other Lakers 3-0 on Sep. 29, 2006.

Currently ranked No. 4 in the region, Mercyhurst will now await word on a possible NCAA Playoff bid, which is awarded to the top six teams in the region. While Grand Valley State is the odds-on favorite for the No. 1 seed in the region, every other team in the top six lost in the past week. Both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the region will host postseason games Friday and Sunday. The selections will take place Monday.