Holland Reporter

The Grand Valley State women's soccer team has been selected to finish first in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office. The Lakers received six first-place votes and accumulated 62 total points in the poll.

This fall marks a new chapter for GVSU as Katelyn Longino takes over as head coach. Longino is the sixth person to lead the program and arrives after seven years as associate head coach at the University of Iowa. At Iowa, she contributed to two Big Ten Tournament Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Fifteen players return from last season’s roster, including five who started in the Elite Eight match. Senior defenders Kacy Lauer and Mackenzie Ford are set to anchor a defense that allowed only nine goals during the 2024 season. Lauer earned recognition as a United Soccer Coaches third team All-American, was named first team All-Region, and was an All-GLIAC performer last year. Ford played all 90 minutes in 16 games and ranked among the top five on the team for minutes played.

On offense, sophomore Sarah Fromm returns after leading GVSU with five goals during her freshman year. Junior forward Alli French also returns following an All-GLIAC campaign with four goals and 11 points in 2024.

GVSU adds five transfers and eight freshmen this season. Midfielder Sonya Mehta joins after two seasons at Iowa, while defender Sophie Cook arrives from Saint Peter's. Freshman forward Ivy Wilhelm is expected to contribute offensively.

In goal, Sara Csernyik—a redshirt freshman transfer from Saint Francis—and true freshman Macie Hunter are competing for the starting position.

The Lakers will open their 2025 schedule on September 4th with an away game against Ashland in Ashland, Ohio, kicking off at 6:30 p.m.