Winter 2016 GVMagazine - (Page 14)
AT HL ETI C S
Leadership from Corby propels
Grand Valley soccer to top by Michele Coffill
Instead of No. 13 on her back, there
were moments last season when Laker
midfielder Marti Corby thought she had a
big target painted on her jersey.
Corby led the soccer team with
25 goals, and led the Lakers to their
third consecutive NCAA Division II
championship, a 2-0 win over Columbus
State. The National Soccer Coaches
Association of America named Corby
Division II Player of the Year for the
second consecutive time.
Heading into the 2015 season, the
Forest Hills Central High School alumna
said she knew opponents would be
gunning for her.
"There was definitely extra pressure
at the start of the season," said Corby, a
junior. "I tried to forget about everything
that happened last season. It's a new
year; last season is not relevant and you
need to have a fresh start."
Corby is not the only player from Forest
Hills. Clare Carlson was a teammate and
Shannon Quinn played for Forest Hills
Northern. The Lakers also have three
players from Northville High School.
14
Winter '16
"It's so easy to play with this team,
they are like sisters to me and they
understand me. We're very close-knit
and it correlates to off the field also,"
Corby said.
Coach Jeff Hosler said it's
advantageous to recruit from the same
high school. "Those bonds formed
through high school and club teams are
ones that our players chose to continue
here at Grand Valley," said Hosler, who
completed his second year as the Lakers'
head coach. "Forest Hills Central and
Northville are among the premier high
school programs in the Midwest, so their
experiences and high level of success are
all things they draw from together."
Corby also played club soccer for
the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors (now
Midwest United). She helped the
team reach four Michigan State Cup
championship games and the national
championship game in 2014. While in
high school, Corby played golf and
basketball but was drawn most to soccer.
"Soccer is so universally popular with
the World Cup, I loved watching it on TV
and being able to do the moves on the
field that I was watching," she said.
Corby was heavily recruited by college
coaches but she said she made her
decision quickly. "Location, for me, was a
big factor and Grand Valley had an array
of majors to choose from," she said.
"And their success was exciting."
The Lakers had won two NCAA
Division II championships (2009, 2010)
before Corby arrived on campus. As
a first-year player in 2013, she helped
the team win its third national title by
scoring 12 goals, and against Columbus
State in December, she scored the
game-winning goal to lead Grand Valley
to its fifth soccer championship.
A clear leader on the field, Hosler
said Corby leads the team off the field,
too. "With all the individual success and
accolades Marti has received, it would
be easy to get caught up on herself,
but she is a team-first player for us. She
truly strives to make those around her
better," he said.
Corby, a clinical exercise science
major, was named to the College Sports
Information Directors Association
Academic All-District Team and
has consistently received Academic
All-America honors throughout her
collegiate career.
National player of the year Marti Corby
was invited to train with the U.S.
Women's National Team in January.
photo by Amanda Pitts
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winter 2016 GVMagazine
Campus News
Focal Point
Athletics
Donor Impact
A Team of Their Own
Meijer Campus
Empowered. Educated. Engineers.
Breathing Life into Historic Sites
Sustainability
Research
Q&A Snell and Stanton
Alumni News
Off the Path
Winter 2016 GVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSpring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineWinter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineFall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSummer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSpring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/Spring2016GVMagazine
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https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMSpring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMwinter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/Grandvalley/GVMFall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/Grandvalley/grandvalleymagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/fall_2013
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