Box Score ALLENDALE, Mich. — While snow fell this weekend in Michigan, ultimately the Midwest Region semifinals were about the reign.

On Sunday afternoon, the record-breaking season of the Bellarmine University women's soccer team came to an end, as the sixth-seeded Knights put forth a valiant challenge in the snow before falling 2-0 to second-seeded and reigning national champion Grand Valley State in the Division II NCAA Tournament.

"I couldn't be more proud of our kids for their effort," said BU Coach Chris Tinius, who guided the Knights into the NCAA Tournament in his first season. "We went down fighting, and that's all you can ask."

The 11th-ranked Lakers (19-2-1), who hosted the match after having a bye in the quarterfinals, got a goal in each half from Gabriella Mencotti. Grand Valley State entered the NCAA Tournament after capturing its eighth straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title, standard procedure for a program that has won three of the last five national championships and was national runner-up another time. The Lakers will meet top-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside, a 2-0 winner over fifth-seeded Saginaw Valley, in the Midwest Region finals.

Bellarmine (14-4-3) advanced to the regional semifinals with a 2-1 triumph Friday over third-seeded Michigan Tech, a win that marked the Knights' third in the NCAA Tournament in four total appearances. BU also met Grand Valley State in 2009, suffering the same fate this season that the Knights did five years ago. The Lakers won their first national title in '09 and repeated the next season.

In addition to Tinius having unparalleled success as a first-year coach in the program, Bellarmine set school records for longest unbeaten streak (12) and least amount of Great Lakes Valley Conference losses (one). The Knights finished the season with the second-most victories in school history both overall and in conference play.

"It was a tough way to end a great season," Tinius said. "If you play sports long enough, sometimes you just run into teams that are better on that day, but I thought the gap was small and I thought we played well enough to give ourselves a chance."

Bellarmine settled in early, as sophomore forward Mary Beth Gorham attempted a shot only 19 seconds into the game that forced Grand Valley State goalkeeper Andrea Strauss to make one of her four saves. Through 22 minutes, the shots were even at three apiece, but the Lakers registered the last six of the first half.

One of those was on the first goal by Mencotti, who converted off a pass from Kaely Schlosser in the 35th minute. The score would stand at 1-0 at halftime, but Mencotti tacked on her second goal roughly 10 minutes into the second half. Her 15th goal of the season came on a rebound off a shot from Katie Klunder.

Bellarmine sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Poteet tallied five saves and the Knights' defense held the nation's third-highest scoring offense to more than one goal off its season average. Grand Valley State had previously pummeled GLVC opponents — the Lakers defeated Quincy 4-0, Truman State 3-0 and Indianapolis 6-0 in the regular season — but the Knights kept things competitive in the postseason matchup.

While Grand Valley State owned an 18-8 advantage in shots, the Lakers' chances on frame (seven) weren't substantially more than Bellarmine's (four). The Knights attempted three shots in the first half and five in the second. Gorham topped the team with three looks, including two on goal. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Holder and sophomore midfielder Sydney Kraus also had one shot apiece on frame.

"Between the quality of their team and our match on Friday, we knew they may have more possession and shots, but we wanted to make sure we had our opportunities, too," Tinius said. "We had some early chances to start the game and then a couple to potentially make it 1-1. At that point, who knows what might happen."

Year 1 of the Tinius era at Bellarmine was a smashing success. The future seems just as bright.

"We showed on several occasions this year we belong on the field with some of the best teams in the country," Tinius said. "We just have to keep working hard and try to take that next step.

"We want to thank our seniors and wish them the best moving forward," he added. "I also want to thank our coaches and support staff for all they did to make it a successful year and all the parents for their wonderful support everywhere we go."

BOX SCORE