Win Saturday allows Wildcats to clinch regular season championship
ALLENDALE, MI – In a thrilling back and forth matchup, NMU and GVSU played to a 1-1 draw, thanks to a late equalizer from Maria Storm.
Grand Valley took the lead half way into the first half with a scrappy goal in front of the NMU net from Ella Kleiver, who was the Laker who scored against the ‘Cats in the 1-0 defeat suffered earlier in the season, but the Wildcats would respond.
A well placed delivery from Kenna Alexander was sent into the GVSU box, and among the chaos, Maria Storm was able to get loose from her defender and get a clear look at goal to level the score with just north of seven minutes to play.
The Wildcats would lock the game down defensively from that point on, only allowing two Laker shot attempts in the final seven minutes that both came with under 30 seconds left to play, and were both blocked by the defense.
With the draw, the Wildcats (11-3-3, 9-2-2, 29 pts) maintain its one point lead over the Lakers (11-1-5, 8-1-4, 28 pts) and now control its own destiny, as a win over Saginaw Valley on Saturday will secure the Wildcats its second consecutive regular season championship.
Storm scored the lone goal on from her only shot of the evening, and joined Brooke Pietila, Hannah Kastamo, Irene Kiilunen, and netminder Sally Patton as the Wildcats who recorded a full 90 minutes of play time.
Pietila, reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, maintained her offensive prowess, as she recorded six shots to lead all field players.
Patton made five saves from 15 shots faced, matching and setting career highs, respectively.
An even contest on the box score, the Wildcats recorded 17 shots with eight on target to the Lakers 15 shots with seven on target. The Lakers held the corner advantage, 5-10, but accrued eight fouls to NMU’s three.
How It Happened
Grand Valley delivered a cross into the box from the right side. The ball found the head of a Grand Valley attacker, who directed it toward goal but Sally Patton came up with a crucial punch to bat the ball away. The ball ricocheted back into the fray and a second header attempt by Grand Valley made its way into the back of the net.
Kenna Alexander played a well timed long ball into the attacking third, landing just inside the Laker penalty area. Maria Storm was positioned perfectly just ahead of the Grand Valley defense, raced onto the loose ball, and made a turn to meet the ball in stride. Storm struck the ball and with no hesitation, firing it into the back of the net.
