Aug. 25, 2007

Final Stats

Golden, COLO. - Grand Valley State University opened its season with an early goal and then held on tightly for a 1-0 victory over the Colorado School of the Mines on Friday. Junior Ashley Elsass scored the only goal for the Lakers, who used stifling defense for the rest of the match to start their season at 1-0.

The Lakers defeated the Orediggers, 1-0, on the strength of the Elsass goal in the 18th minute of play. After junior Kristina Nasturzio made two saves to start the match, junior Katy Tafler fed Elsass to put the Lakers ahead for good with a goal after just 17:52 of action.

The Lakers outshot the Orediggers 12-9 over the course of the match, with Tafler taking three, Elsass recording two and freshman Kristen Eible notching three of her own. Four of the Laker shots found the goal, and Oredigger keeper Briana Schulze made three saves. Nasturzio ended the game with four saves to record the shutout.

The match was the first of the season for the Lakers, who enter the season ranked #2. Now 1-0, their next match will be on Sunday, when they take on the Rangers of Regis University in Denver, Colo. Opening kick-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.