Oct. 2, 2007

Bay City, Mich. - Katy Tafler earned GLIAC Women's Soccer Athlete of the Week honors for the second week in a row and Grand Valley State University was named the number one team in the nation for a fifth straight week on Tuesday. Tafler also scored her 18th goal of the year and 76th of her career, making her the all-time leading goal scorer in Laker history. It was an eventful week for the Lakers as a whole, who won matches against St. Joseph's (Ind.), Findlay and Ashland. Ashley Elsass also set an NCAA Div. II record in the game against Findlay.

Tafler had a monster week to earn the GLIAC plaudits. The junior forward scored eight goals and tallied 19 points in just three matches. Tafler scored the game-winning goal and added two assists on Tuesday in a 3-1 win over St. Joe's. She then dominated GVSU's trip to Ohio, scoring a combined seven goals against Findlay and Ashland. She scored three goals and added an assists in a 9-1 win over UF before leading the #1 Lakers to their first-ever win in Ashland, 8-0, by scoring four goals, including the game-winner. Tafler's 18 goals and 44 points are both team-highs.

As of Sept. 30, Tafler was first in the nation in both points per game (4.4) and goals per game (1.8). Over the last week, Tafler move from third and passed former first-place holder Cole Dant of Davis & Elkins College. Tafler is also eighth in the nation in assists per game (0.8).

Elsass also made an impact this week, breaking an NCAA Div. II record on Friday, Sept. 28. The junior forward scored three goals in the span on 1:09, the fastest three consecutive goals by the same player in Div. II history. Elsass more than halved the previous record of 2:20. Elsass's first goal of the three was also the game-winner against the Oilers. Elsass ranks 31st in Div. II in points per game (2.1) and 29th in goals per game (0.9).

The Lakers have a big week ahead of them and will put both their 10-0 overall record and 2-0 GLIAC record on the line. On Friday, GVSU takes on #23 Mercyhurst at 4 p.m. The game will be a "White Out" contest, with fans in Allendale, Mich. encouraged to wear white to the match. The White Out is sponsored by the Village at 48 West, and the first Laker fans at the match will receive spirit towels. On Sunday, the Lakers will take on Gannon University at 12 noon.

Kristina Nasturzio also ranks high in Div. II. The junior goalkeeper is second in goals-against average (0.219) and sixth in save percentage (0.917). As a team, the Lakers are the highest scoring squad in the nation, notching 4.7 goals per contest. They're also one of two teams with a perfect record, along with Seattle Pacific. GVSU ranks fifth in the nation in goals-against average (0.4), as well.