Grand Valley State claimed its first NCAA Division II National Championship Saturday (Dec. 5) afternoon in Tampa, Fla. with a 1-0 victory over CSU Dominguez Hills in the title game. GVSU finished the year undefeated with a record of 22-0-4.

The Toros got their first look at the goal during the ninth minute, but goalkeeper Chelsea Parise was there to record her first save of the game, when she caught a header off a throw in. Parise then quickly threw the ball up the field where Kayla Addison took a shot at the goal which landed just wide of the net. Freshman Maria Brown recorded the Lakers’ first shot on goal attempt at the 25:47 mark, when she took a high shot from the left side, but goalie Alyssa Congdon was able to get a hand on it. Brown tried again from the left side during the 39th minute, but Congdon was there yet again with the save.

A minute later freshman forward Ashley Botts took a shot from inside the box which hit the right cross bar. Irie Dennis rebounded the miss shot and took a shot of her own which was caught by Congdon. The Lakers outshot the Toros by an 11-7 edge in the first half. In the shots on goal column GVSU and CSU Dominguez Hills were tied at three apiece. Grand Valley State controlled the ball most of the first half taking five corner kicks, while the Toros did not attempt one.

After a scoreless first half, freshman midfielder Erin Hilbert took the ball down the middle of the field and took a shot from just outside the box during the 72nd minute. Keeper Congdon was there to save the goal and keep the game scoreless.

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–Courtesy GVSU Athletics