PREVIEW: Soccer plays at Grand Valley, hosts Ferris State this weekend

THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES

• The Huskies will travel downstate to take on #1 nationally ranked Grand Valley State on Friday (Oct. 22) at 4 p.m.

• Michigan Tech will then return home on Sunday (Oct. 24) as they host #9 Ferris State at noon at Kearly Stadium. 

A RECAP OF LAST WEEKEND

• The Huskies secured a pair of 1-0 victories over the weekend at Northwood and at Davenport. 

• The Black and Gold were led by Grace Shaw each game as she recorded her 7th and 8th goals on the season. 

• Gracie VanLangevelde got the shutout in goal on Friday at Northwood while Erika Gabriel followed it up with a shutout of her own at Davenport. 

SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY STATE

• The Lakers (12-0-1 overall, 8-0-1 GLIAC) are ranked #1 nationally.

• Junior forward Greta DeLoach leads the GLIAC in goals (15) and points (33). Her 15 goals puts her one off the lead for all of Division II. She has scored 11 goals in the last six games. 

• Sophomore forward Kennedy Bearden has recorded seven goals this season for the Lakers. 

• Coached by Jim Conlon, who is in his first year as Head Coach. Conlon previously coached 12 seasons at Division III Washington University in St. Louis, leading them to a National Championship in 2016.  

• The Lakers have won six of the last 11 Division II National Championships.

SCOUTING FERRIS STATE

• The Bulldogs are 10-1-2 overall and 7-0-2 in the GLIAC. They are ranked #9 in the nation.

• FSU is coming off of a 5-0 victory vs. Parkside on Sunday (Oct. 17).

• Ferris has outscored their opponents 42-8 this season. Grace Verhage (nine goals, 25 points) and Pia Nagel (eight goals, 19 points) lead the attack for the Bulldogs. 

• Greg Henson is in his third season as head coach of the Bulldogs. He led FSU to the program's first GLIAC Championship in the spring 2021 season. 

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

• The Huskies and the Lakers last faced off on September 19, 2021 in Houghton. The Huskies fell 2-0 and were out shot 11-10 for the game. 

• Michigan Tech and Ferris State recently faced off on Oct. 8 at Ferris State. The Huskies fell 2-1. Hannah Loughlin got the tally for the Black and Gold.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Grace Shaw leads the team with eight goals and 17 points. 

• Freshman Julia Pietila has five goals and 11 points this season. 

• Stephanie Yeager leads the team with five assists.

• Grace Shaw and Jesse Jacobusse each reached the 20 career goal milestone on Sept. 17 against Davenport.

ALL-GLIAC RETURNEES

• The Black and Gold return four all-GLIAC players from last season.

• Fifth year senior Jesse Jacobusse led the Huskies with seven goals and 15 points in the spring season.

• Joining Jacobusse on the attack is senior and co-captain Grace Shaw. Shaw recorded four goals and added five assists in the 2021 spring campaign. She was second on the team with 13 points. 

• Also anchoring the Huskies' lineup are senior Brooke Schauer and junior Neve Badalow. Schauer recorded two goals and five assists (nine points) last season while Badalow assisted on two goals and had a stellar season on the defensive end. 

PRESEASON POLL

• The Huskies were selected to finish fourth in the GLIAC Preseason Poll.

• Grand Valley State was picked to finish first in the conference. Ferris State followed in second. 

• Full GLIAC Preseason Poll

MIDWEST REGIONAL POLL

• The Huskies are currently ranked #10 in the latest regional rankings released by the United Soccer Coaches poll. 

• Grand Valley is ranked at #1 and Ferris State is right behind at #2.

• Full Midwest Regional Poll

COACH OZTURK

• Head Coach Bulut Ozturk is in his second season with the Huskies.

• Under Ozturk, the Huskies have gone from a 5-10-1 record in 2019 to a 5-4-1 record last season.

• He led the Huskies to a return to the GLIAC Quarterfinals. 

• During the regular season, Ozturk coached the Huskies to an overtime tie on the road against No. 1 ranked Grand Valley State.

LAST SEASON

• The Huskies finished the 2021 spring season with a 5-4-1 overall record, reaching the GLIAC Quarterfinals.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

• The Black and Gold will have one home game the coming weekend, as they host Saginaw Valley State on Sunday (Oct. 31) at noon. The Huskies will honor their seniors prior to the start of the game.