Columbus State set for challenge against Grand Valley State in soccer final
The Columbus State women’s soccer team is in the midst of history at the school.
The Lady Cougars played in and won their first ever national semifinal on Thursday against Bridgeport to advance to their first ever national championship game. Already holding program records for wins in a season and longest winning streak, they are just one win away from a national championship that would be the culmination of 12 years of program development for coach Jay Entlich.
Only one thing stands in Columbus State’s way, and it is the biggest challenge of them all: two-time defending Division-II champion Grand Valley State.
The two will meet in the national final at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla. The Lady Lakers will be trying to complete a three-peat to match Franklin Pierce, the only other program to win more than two consecutive titles in women’s D-II history.
The real challenge is that despite the success of the past two seasons, this Grand Valley State squad may be the best of them all.
It broke a school record for goals in a season with 102 thus far, eclipsing the 92 it scored in 2010. Assists, likewise, are an all-time high for the program at 89. The Lady Lakers haven’t lost since their season opener on Sept. 4, an unbeaten streak of 23 matches, and they have allowed just 11 goals all year.
But don’t try to convince Entlich the challenge is too big for his Lady Cougars. He and his players, despite an already historic season, still have just one goal on their minds.
“We’re not done yet,” Entlich said after his team’s win on Thursday. “We didn’t come down here to come in second place. That’s been the message all year.”
Columbus State, too, has its best team ever. It has set a program record for goals and wins, as well. It’s been almost as long since the Lady Cougars lost, having gone unbeaten since Sept. 13.
More than anything, Entlich believes he has a cohesive group with a number of individuals who can step up when needed. On Thursday, it was Chelsea Person, who recorded two assists and was involved in all three of the team’s goals in a 3-1 win. It has been Nicole Corcione all season, who has tied the single-season program record for points. And freshman Olivia Jarrell leads the squad in goals with 17 after adding one in Thursday’s victory.
“They’ve bought in to the process,” Entlich said. “We’ve got, right now, our entire team buying in.”
Columbus State will have to defend Grand Valley State’s most prolific scorer, Marti Corby, closely. Corbi has scored 24 goals and notched 16 assists this season. She has taken 166 shots, twice as many as the No. 2 shooter, Gabriella Mencotti. Four players on the team have notched 10 or more goals, and five have assisted at least nine.
This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Columbus State set for challenge against Grand Valley State in soccer final."