Nov. 18, 2007

Final Stats

Mankato, Minn. - Katie Johnson scored the game-winning goal just 8:41 into the match to give Grand Valley State a 1-0 win over Nebraska-Omaha in a match that was eerily similar to last year's quarterfinal game. The #1 Lakers scored early and held on late to advance to the NCAA Final Four in Gulf Shores, Ala. Kristina Nasturzio notched five saves in the shutout win for the Lakers, who will take on the University of Tampa on Thursday, Nov. 29.

The Mavericks controlled play early on, but it was GVSU that capitalized first. On their first and only corner kick of the first half, Sue Christenson played a ball into the six-yard box. UNO goalkeeper Ellen Petersen got a hand on the ball and deflected the cross out toward the 18-yard line. Johnson corralled the ball and buried a shot in the left side of the net to put the Lakers up 1-0. The goal was Johnson's second of the year, and the assist gave Christenson two in as many days, with both coming on corner kicks.

The teams played evenly for the remainder of the first half, with both teams taking six shots and putting three of them on frame. Nasturzio showed great positioning, and took away UNO's best scoring chance by stopping a point-blank shot off of a cross. The crowd was fooled for a moment on a later chance, as a UNO shot went just over the crossbar, despite looking like it had gone in.

The weather, which was cold and windy to begin with, deteriorated in the second half. Rain and snow came down for the entirety of the second period, and the field conditions worsened. Both goalkeepers were tested, as Nasturzio recorded two saves and Petersen notching another three. The Mavericks had some quality chances off of crosses, but had two headers miss just wide.

The match marked the third time in as many years that the Lakers and Mavericks have played against each other in the NCAA Quarterfinals. In both 2006 and 2007, GVSU has advanced with a 1-0 victory. The Lakers are now 21-0-1 and will take on the University of Tampa in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Nov. 29.