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GVSU Women’s SoccerDerek ArguelloDecember 3, 2014
GVSU women’s soccer must win in NCAA final four to defend national title
ALLENDALE, Mich. — The Grand Valley State University women’s soccer team will play in
the final four of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament Thursday. The winner
of the match will play in the NCAA Division II national championship game. If the women
Lakers make it to the championship, it will be the team’s fourth time playing in the finals since
2009. After finishing the regular season with a 21-2-1 record, the women’s soccer team hopes to
defend its 2013 national title by beating the sixth ranked College of Saint Rose in the semi-finals.
True freshman Gabriella Mencotti, center forward, leads the team with 16 goals for the season so
far. She uses her family as inspiration to push her on-field performance. “I’m motivated to play
because of my parents. They have spent a lot of time watching me play and also have paid a lot
of money just for soccer,” said Mencotti. In addition, she attributes her grandmother as a reason
to strive for playing at the collegiate level. She said it was always her grandma’s dream for her to
play on the same team as her older sister Alexis, a red-shirted senior. Playing for Grand Valley
was a way for Mencotti to make this dream happen.
Mencotti has also contributed 10 assisted goals for the Lakers. She describes the relationship
with her team as a reason for its winning performance this season. “I think the relationship with
my team is that everyone is there to help,” said Mencotti. “All the girls are here for the same
thing, to win a national title. We are all together and push one another to do better.” Freshman
defender Maria Farmer also shares this same connection with her fellow teammates. “There were
a handful of upperclassmen that went out of their way to reach out and make sure we were
adjusting well to a new team and a new school,” said Farmer. “Everyone sticks together, and
even off the field we are really close.”
The GVSU women’s soccer team has played well in the NCAA tournament thus far. With wins
in the tournament over Bellarmine University, the third ranked University of Wisconsin –
Parkside, and tenth ranked University of Central Missouri, the Lakers hope to use its momentum
to defeat the Saint Rose team Thursday and make back-to-back final appearances. In addition,
the Grand Valley team is familiar with handling the pressures of playing in the NCAA
tournament. With championship titles in 2009, 2010, 2013, in addition to a second place finish in
2011, the women playing for Grand Valley knows what it takes to win.
“I feel like it’s really exciting to be here,” said Mencotti. “But it’s also really nerve-racking
because at any point we could be done and our season could be over.” Although both, Farmer
and Mencotti have never played in a NCAA tournament before, the two hope to use their
experience as longtime players to overcome any nerves that they might feel once they step onto
the field.
“Its one game at a time, but our team knows how to compete in these big games,” said Farmer.
“There is so much momentum, you have to realize how many teams don’t get to have this
experience. It’s really exciting, I’m grateful and happy to be here with my team.”
The Lakers play its semi-final matchup in Louisville, Kentucky at 5 p.m. Thursday. Live
coverage of the game will be on the Lakers’ official athletics webpage. A win would place the
team in the finals on Saturday, December 6 where the women hope to reclaim their defending
national title.
Gabriella Mencotti, center forward for the Grand Valley women’s soccer team
(248) 348-7177
Maria Farmer, defender for the Grand Valley women’s soccer team
(734) 233-5303
