MIDLAND, MICHIGAN -- The Lake Erie women's soccer team competed in the quarterfinal of the G-MAC tournament on Saturday night against the Northwood Timberwolves, suffering a 4-0 defeat. After such an unbelievable season highlighted by their stellar defense, the Storm were unable to slow down the Timberwolves' second-period offensive barrage, as the 1-0 deficit quickly turned into a four-score game. Lake Erie finishes the season with an overall record of 10-5-4, marking their first winning season and double-digit win season since 2006, along with their first trip to the postseason since 2017.
Game Recap
Despite finding quality opportunities in both periods, the Storm offense that had only been shut out twice during the regular season was unable to cash in against an incredibly stout Northwood squad. Four different players registered shots on goal throughout the game, yet the Timberwolves always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, denying every promising look.
On the other side, Northwood faced similar challenges finding the net, though they came close several times before finally breaking through in the 33rd minute. Continued pressure off a corner kick led to a scramble in front of goal, where the Timberwolves capitalized to take a 1-0 lead heading into halftime and the most important 45 minutes of the year.
Whatever was discussed in the locker room clearly worked for the home team, as Northwood came out of the break with newfound aggression. They took five shots in the opening 10 minutes, and in the 57th minute found the back of the net to go up 2-0. Six minutes later, they added another to increase their lead and put even more pressure on the Storm to respond. Instead, the Timberwolves struck once more with 13 minutes remaining, essentially putting the game away and sending Northwood to the semifinals, where they will travel to face the mighty Ashland Eagles, who have yet to lose to a conference opponent all season.
Season Recap
Overall, what a step forward this program has taken. In the past four seasons from 2021 to 2024, women's soccer at Lake Erie won a total of nine games. This year alone they surpassed that mark. A large part of the story rests on the defense, as the team's seven shutouts this season match the total from the previous four years combined.
On the offensive side, the addition of newcomers Arielle Fink (transfer from Eastern Michigan) and Isabella Carvalho (true freshman) helped make the team dangerous from multiple positions on the field instead of relying almost solely on Leonie Witt to carry the load. This allowed Witt to dish out eight assists, the second-highest total in the conference. Alyvia Sanom also benefited from the added talent, scoring twice as many goals as last season on fewer shots. Ainsley MacKenzie added another three-goal season herself, making five different players with three or more goals for the Storm—the first time that's happened since overall team stat tracking began in 2009.
Looking Ahead
From being ranked 11th out of 12 teams in the coaches' preseason poll to finishing fifth, Lake Erie far exceeded external expectations. The culture shift within the program is real, and this season will serve as a benchmark moving forward.
However, the Storm will lose a large portion of their core to graduation. All seven seniors were consistent starters and make up seven of the ten players who reached 1,000 or more minutes this season. That said, this opens the door for younger players to step up and fill key roles. Coach Contrascier will undoubtedly use this year's success to help recruit the next generation of Storm athletes.
There are now higher expectations for this program going forward, and plenty of reason to believe that Lake Erie women's soccer is just getting started. Be sure to stay tuned in with team updates!
