2006 MIAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PREVIEW
The 2006 MIAC women's soccer season looks to be an exciting season. Macalester, Concordia, St. Thomas, Saint Benedict, and Augsburg rounded out the top five finishers in the 2005 season and once again those same five teams are the top five teams ranked in the 2006 MIAC preseason coach's poll. Two time defending regular season champion's Macalester looks to be strong once again. The Scots will look to first team 2005 All-American and MIAC MVP Annie Borton to provide strong leadership on the field. The Cobbers will likely be the team to challenge Macalester for the MIAC crown. An experienced Concordia team will be lead by 2004 MIAC MVP Morgan Bain as well as 5 other All-MIAC players.
For the second year in a row, St. Thomas has just two seniors. But eight talented freshmen and seven sophomores will give the Tommies the depth they will need to make the playoffs. Saint Benedict will look to their two senior captains, Meg O’Neill and Rachel Lindor to provide the needed leadersip to be a top team in the MIAC. Augsburg will be attempting to make their third consecutive trip to the MIAC playoffs with 14 letterwinners and nine starters returning the Auggies have high expectaions for the 2006 season. With a first-year head coach Jeremy Driver and a strong group of returning starters, the St. Olaf women's soccer team looks forward to a successful year.
Saint Mary's returns nine starters and All-MIAC goalkeeper Jennifer Johnson to a team poised to make a playoff run. Gustavus returns four of their top five scorers and look to make a move up in the MIAC standings. Under first-year head coach Keren Gudeman, Carleton will start a new chapter in the program's history. Hamline will again count on a trio of Stillwater grads in juniors Anna McMahon, Christine Feely, and Ann Donner. St. Catherine will look to continue last season's improvement with first-year coach Steve Bellis. Bethel may have one of the strongest teams in program history with senior Lauren Johnson and junior Jessie Tschetter leading the way.
2006 MIAC Preseason Women's Soccer Coach's Poll
(First Place Votes in Parentheses)
1. Macalester (6)
2. Concordia (5)
3. St. Thomas
4. Saint Benedict
5. Augsburg
6. St. Olaf (1)
7. Saint Mary's
8. Gustavus
9. Carleton
10. Hamline
11. St. Catherine
12. Bethel
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2006 MIAC Women's Soccer Playoffs |
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| Semifinals Wednesday, November1 #4 Seed @ #1 Seed #3 Seed @ #2 Seed |
Championship Saturday, November 4 Semifinal winners at high seed |
| AUG | BU | CAR | CON | GAC | HU | MAC | CSB | CSC | SMU | STO | UST |
| Augsburg College |
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| Head Coach: | Mike Navarre (8th season / 56-55-13 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 8-3-7 (5-2-4 MIAC / Tied 4th) | |
| Key Returners: | Emily Anderson (F, Sr., Hudson, Wis.) All-MIAC first team in 2004 and 2005, honorable mention in 2003; tied for team lead in scoring in 2005 (8G-8A--24P) Maggie DeGroot (GK, So., Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) All-MIAC honorable mention in 2005; played every minute in goal for Augsburg (1786:18) with 112 saves Becky Lewis (F, Sr., Duluth, Minn./Duluth Marshall) 1 goal in 8 games in 2005, missed 10 games due to injury; third on team in scoring in 2004 (6G-1A--13P) Shannon Olson (D, Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) 4-year starter on defense (51 games); 1 career goal. Aili Brom-Palkowski (D, Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./South) 4-year starter on defense; leading scorer among defenders and seventh overall (1G-1A--3P) in 2005 Kelsey Watsabaugh (MF, So., Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins) Third on team in scoring in 2005 (3G-2A--8P). |
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| Season Preview: | Coming off a year with just two regular-season losses and a second straight appearance in the four-team Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason playoffs, the Augsburg College women's soccer program has come a long way since coach Mike Navarre inherited leadership of the squad in 1999. Winning seasons are now an expectation for the Auggies, as they have established themselves as a team that will consistently challenge for prominence in the MIAC, considered one of the toughest NCAA Division III women's soccer leagues in the country. Making the MIAC playoffs for the third season in a row is a goal within their grasp, along with even bigger goals -- winning the MIAC championship and earning a berth in the NCAA Division III postseason playoffs. And with 14 letterwinners and nine starters returning from a team that finished 8-3-7 overall, 5-2-4 in MIAC play last season, the ambitious goals Navarre has set for the program aren't merely pipe dreams. Five seniors return to lead the Auggies this season, including three who have started all three seasons -- forward Emily Anderson (Sr., Hudson, Wis.) and defenders Aili Brom-Palkowski (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) and Shannon Olson (Sr., Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy HS). Joined by forward Becky Lewis (Sr., Duluth, Minn./Duluth Marshall HS) and midfielder Carla Giuliani (Sr., Whitefish Bay, Wis./Dominican HS), the quintet provides a solid base for the Auggies. Anderson, an All-MIAC first-team selection the last two seasons, enters this season as the team's go-to forward, following the graduation of Millie Suk, the school's all-time leading scorer (Suk continues her involvement with the Augsburg program as a volunteer coach this season). Anderson scored eight goals and had eight assists last year, and enters this season fourth on the school's record list in both career goals (24) and points (66). Lewis was sidelined by injuries midway through the 2005 season and missed the final 10 games of the campaign. But Navarre believes that a now-healthy Lewis, who scored six goals in 2004, will be a strong compliment to Anderson up front. Brom-Palkowski and Olson anchor an Auggie defense that has been among the stingiest in the MIAC in recent years, giving up just 13 goals last year (third-best among MIAC teams overall) and just 58 goals in 54 games (1.07 goals per game) over the past three seasons. Giuliani, appearing in 28 career games entering her senior season, is a player that "leads by example, works hard and is a critical component of our leadership," Navarre said. Nine starters return to Auggie lineup Augsburg returns nine starters this season and 14 letterwinners, while also bringing a solid recruiting class of six players to the program. With Brom-Palkowski and Olson, the Auggie defense returns four of its five starters from last season, after losing three-time All-MIAC selection Nora Austin to graduation. Goalkeeper Maggie DeGroot (So., Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS) was one of the top netminders in the conference last year. Her 0.65 overall goals-against average and 0.49 conference-games GAA were both third-best among MIAC goalkeepers, and her eight shutouts were third-best in a single season in school history. Felicia Faison (So., Minneapolis, Minn./South HS) also returns to the Auggie defense, after starting all 18 games as a freshman last year. Along with the four returning starters and returner Erin Gave (Jr., Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS). In the midfield, four starters return -- Angie Neuhaus (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest HS), Noreen Hogan (Jr., Moline, Ill./Alleman HS), Jackie Keller (Jr., Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City West HS) and Kelsey Watsabaugh (So., Eden Prairie, Minn./Hopkins HS), along with reserves Giuliani and Mitra Rahimi (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.). Complete Augsburg preview at: http://www.augsburg.edu/athletics/wsoccer/0607preview.html |
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| Bethel University |
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| Head Coach: | Joel Johnson (3rd season/ 18-33-2 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 6-10-2 (1-8-2 MIAC / Tied 10th) | |
| Key Returners: | Lauren Johnson All-Conference (14 goals, 4 assist) Jessie Tschetter All-Conference Honorable Mention (5 goals, 4 assists) Esther Sowles (5 goals, 4 assists) |
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| Season Preview: | When Joel Johnson took over the Royals in 2004 he inherited a team with a record of 1-17. In his first year, that total tripled to three wins. Last year, it was doubled to six. The 2006 season could be the year that the Royals break out and become a consistently competitive program in the MIAC. The Royals return 8 starters and more players with varsity experience than at any time in program history. Leading the way offensively will be senior forward Lauren Johnson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North). Johnson lead the Royals with 14 goals and 4 assists last year. Joining her in the attack will be junior Jessie Tschetter (Sioux Falls, S.D./O’Gorman) and sophomore Esther Sowles (Waconia, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) both of whom added 5 goals and 4 assists in 2005. Add in the veteran leadership of Angela Mooney (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo HS), Jane Stephens (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) and talented sophomore goalkeeper Charli Sorensen (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) and the Royals appear to be poised for big things in 2006. Complete Bethel preview at: http://cas.bethel.edu/athletics/W_Soccer.html/2006/preview.html |
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| Carleton College | 
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| Head Coach: | Keren Gudeman (1st season / 0-0-0 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 3-11-2 (3-7-1 MIAC / 9th) | |
| Key Returners: | N/A | |
| Season Preview: | N/A | |
| Concordia College | 
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| Head Coach: | Dan Weiler (5th season / 44-29-3 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 15-4-0 (9-2-0 MIAC / 2nd) | |
| Key Returners: | Morgan Bain 2004 MIAC MVP; ‘04, ‘05 All-Region; 114 Career Pts. Amy Ravenhorst ’04, ’05 All-MIAC; 2nd in assists (11) on team in ‘05 Miriam Lombardozzi 2005 All-MIAC; 3-year starter; central midfielder Betsy Olesen 2004 All-MIAC; 3-year starter; central defender Jill Fancher 2004 All-MIAC HM; 3-year starter; tough wing defender Suzy Grabko 2003 All-MIAC; school record holder for assists in a conferecne season |
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| Season Preview: | Concordia women’s soccer head coach Dan Weiler has carefully tended to his garden of top players for the past three years and is about to reap the rewards of a bountiful harvest. Weiler has carefully nurtured this year’s senior class as they have earned three straight MIAC tournament appearances and participated in two consecutive conference championship games. Over the past two seasons, the Cobbers have recorded a 19-3 record in conference play and have compiled 28 overall victories during that stretch. Weiler has meticulously planned for the 2006 season by fertilizing this year’s seniors with three consecutive “Miracle Gro” classes. All the pruning and constant watering have the Cobbers bursting at the seams in 2006. The team returns 10 of the 11 starting players from last year when Concordia won a school-record 15 games and set the program record for fewest losses in a year (4). Add the fact that this year’s seniors are 20-3-1 at home during their careers and you have a team that has learned how to win, have the right attitude and knows what it takes to succeed in the conference. The only place left for the Cobbers to take their produce is to the national market. Weiler and his band of seniors have set their sights on the NCAA playoffs for 2006. They will try to become the first Concordia women’s soccer team in the history of the school to advance to the national tournament. The roots run deep for the ’06 squad. The team’s anchor, 2004 MIAC MVP Morgan Bain (Sr., Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake, Minn.), returns to terrorize opposing teams’ backlines. Bain has already busted the school record for goals in a career (50) and she now has the program mark for career points squarely in her cross hairs. Bain has 114 points entering her final season and needs 24 points to surpass Angie Tohm ’97 as the school’s all-time leading scorer. Bain is only one component of the Cobber crop. Weiler returns All-MIAC players Amy Ravenhorst (Hollandale, Minn./Albert Lea HS), Miriam Lombardozzi (Billings, Mont./Billings Senior HS), Betsy Olesen (Bismarck, N.D.), Suzy Grabko (Fargo, N.D./Fargo North HS) and Jill Fancher (Burnsville, Minn.). All five players have earned conference postseason honors at some point during their careers and not coincidentally, all five – plus Bain – comprise the entire senior class. With leadership from the seniors who have backed up their talk with the walk on the field, the Cobber underclassmen have been able to learn the keys to success up close. Joining the senior six as returning starters are juniors Andrea Purcell (Northfield, Minn.) and Darcy Swagger (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) and sophomores Chelsee McLaughlan (Blackfoot, Idaho) and goalkeeper Britt Reiersgord (Edina, Minn.). Purcell is a fast and talented wing defender who joins with Fancher as a pair of high-caliber defensive bookends. Swagger has steadily improved every season and now is a college experienced central midfielder. McLaughlin started 14 games last year as a freshman as the team’s central defender and looks even better in early-season training sessions. Reiersgord started every game in goal last year and set the school record for most games and minutes played in a season. Her eight shutouts last year tied the school record for blankings in a year. Despite her stellar freshman season, Reiersgord will be locked in the most hotly contested spot in the starting 11. That stems from the return of junior Ashley Liegakos (Maple Grove, Minn.) from a knee injury before the 2005 season. Like Reiersgord, Liegakos also shown in her freshman season. In 2004, she set the bar for shutouts with eight and the 0.81goals against average she posted in conference play is the second-best mark in program history. The competition should help each player achieve a new level of play and will help the Cobber defense during the long conference season. The only vacated starting spot to fill is on the front-line. Last year Kelly Ping turned all the attention paid to Bain into a career season, leading the team in scoring with 39 points and earning MIAC All-Conference honors. Ping’s control game was a perfect compliment to the breakaway prowess of Bain. Ping finished the year with an MIAC best 15 assists and the two combined to score 28 of the team’s 50 goals. The leading candidate to earn the role as Bain’s sidekick in 2006 is junior Rachel Lewis (Lakeville, Minn.). Lewis was fourth on the team in scoring in 2005 and has scored 10 goals in her first two seasons in maroon and gold. Like Ping, Lewis possesses a game that compliments Bain’s ability very well. She should be able to step into the line-up and not have the deadly Cobber offensive attack slow down. Like a master gardener, Weiler brought in another high-quality freshman class to ensure that this year’s crop will not be the last top harvest. Ten freshmen made this year’s final roster. They join a sophomore class of 12 to form 22 of the team’s 35 players on the squad. The 35 players on this year’s team represent the most in program history. All the numbers and quality point to the fact that the 2006 harvest could be the best in school history Complete Concordia preview at: http://www.cord.edu/dept/sports/fall/ws/06preview.php |
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| Gustavus Adolphus College | 
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| Head Coach: | Mike Stehlik (17th season / 182-80-21 ) | |
| 2005 Record: | 7-10-1 (4-6-1 MIAC / 8th) | |
| Key Returners: | Amy Larson (SR, F, 5-7, Bloomington, MN) Honorable Mention All-MIAC, 4 goals, 3 asst., GWG Jenna Iaizzo (JR, F, 5-11, White Bear Lake, MN) Honorable Mention All-MIAC, 3 goals, 2 GWG Christy Tupy (SO, F, 5-7, Eagan, MN) Team-high 5 goals, 2 GWG Liz Petersen (SR, MF, 6-2, Stillwater, MN) Shannon Quealy (SR, D, 5-4, Plymouth, MN) Rachel Gieseke (SO, D, Richfield, MN) |
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| Season Preview: | Gustavus Adolphus head women's soccer coach Mike Stehlik needs to replace a pair of all-conference performers from a year ago, but four of last year's top five scorers and seven of 11 starters return to help lead a Gustie team that is hoping to bounce back from consecutive eighth-place finishes in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Gustavus, which enters 2006 on a three-game winning streak, should have a balance of depth and experience this season as the 21 returning letterwinners are joined by a talented group of first-year players. While the Gusties should be solid defensively (they ranked fifth in the MIAC with 21 goals allowed last season), the team will need to find the back of the net more often in 2006 if a fourth consecutive lower-division MIAC finish is to be avoided. Gustavus ranked 10th in the MIAC with 19 goals scored and was shut out in nine of its ten losses. Probably the biggest question for Stehlik is how he will fill the void left by the graduation of all-conference goalkeeper Tori Boughton. Boughton made 143 saves and allowed 20 goals in 17 games last season, allowing more than two goals on only one occasion. Boughton also posted four shutouts. Sophomore Ashley Ohlson (Anchorage, Alaska) will battle junior Julie Mahre (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and first-year Kelsey Dietz (Owatonna, Minn.) for the position. Ohlson is the lone returning player with experience, leading the Gusties to a 1-1 tie at St. Kate's in her only game in net last season, while Mahre is a two-time All-MIAC selection in softball. Dietz led Owatonna High School to within a step of the Class AA Tournament last fall before falling to Rochester Century 4-1 in the Section 1AA final. The Gusties will also need to make up for the loss of Samantha Engh, who graduated in 11th place on the Gustavus career scoring list with 51 points (22 goals, 7 assists). Engh finished third on the team in scoring last season with nine points on four goals and an assist. Senior Amy Larson (Bloomington, Minn.) and junior Jenna Iaizzo (White Bear Lake, Minn.) will lead the Gusties up front this season, with sophomore Christy Tupy (Eagan, Minn.) providing an offensive punch off the bench. Larson led the team in scoring with four goals and three assists for 11 points. Iaizzo and Tupy combined for eight goals, with Tupy knocking in a team-high five. Senior Kelly Bottenberg (Minnetonka, Minn.) and first-year Chelsea Craven (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) could also see time off the bench this season. Experience and depth return in the Gustavus midfield. Seniors Liz Petersen (Stillwater, Minn.), Alison Rethwisch (Lakeville, Minn.) and Megan Tepper (Woodbury, Minn.) all return after starting at least 15 of 18 games last season. Petersen and Tepper will patrol the center midfield while Rethwisch and first-year Becca Hagen (Minneapolis, Minn.) look to control action on the perimeter. Juniors Amy Kunkel (St. Cloud, Minn.) and Tami Korb (Rapid City, S.D.), sophomores Ashley Voightlander (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Callie Christensen (Bloomington, Minn.) and first-year Kirsten Thulien (Burnsville, Minn.) will all battle for playing time. Christensen started eight games a year ago, scoring a goal and two assists. At defender, senior Shannon Quealy (Plymouth, Minn.) and sophomore Rachel Gieseke (Richfield, Minn.) each return after starting all 18 games last season, while junior Kathleen DeWahl (St. Paul, Minn.) and sophomore Jaime Tsurusaki (Apple Valley, Minn.) will battle first-year players Alison Dittmer (Plymouth, Minn.) and Rachel Iblings (Plymouth, Minn.) for the two remaining positions in the starting lineup. DeWahl played in 12 games last season, while Tsurusaki moves to defender after starting eight games in the midfield a year ago. Complete Gustavus preview at: http://www.gustavus.edu/athletics/news/2367 |
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| Hamline University | 
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| Head Coach: | Tony Englund (4th season / 14-38-2 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 7-11-0 (2-9-0 MIAC / Tied 10th) | |
| Key Returners: | Anna McMahon (Jr.., F, Stillwater, Minn.) Christine Feely (Jr.., D, Stillwater, Minn.) Ann Donner (Jr.., F, Stillwater, Minn.) Andrea Eilertson (Sr., GK, Kiester, Minn.) |
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| Season Preview: | The Hamline women’s soccer team made huge leaps of improvement in 2005, tying the school record for wins in a season, most goals scored and shots taken as well as fewest goals allowed and shots against. This season, third-year head coach Tony Englund hopes the Pipers can make a huge leap in another area – the MIAC standings. After finishing with a record of 7-11, 2-9 in the MIAC last season, the Pipers will look to progress in the close games, especially those within the competitive conference. Last season, the Pipers lost five conference games by the score of 1-0. “I think the key thing for this team is to win a couple of the close games we lost last year,” Englund said. “The kids that we have are working really hard, and they have proven they can play with most of the teams in the conference. We want to keep that momentum and turn the corner in some of those conference games.” To do that, the Pipers will need to be better finishers around the net. “We need to prove that we can score on more of the teams in the conference,” Englund said. “Last year, we created opportunities. This year, we need to finish on some of those opportunities.” The Pipers return their top two leading scorers from a season ago in juniors Ann Donner (Stillwater, Minn.) and Anna McMahon (Stillwater, Minn.) Both earned All-MIAC honorable mention as Donner scored nine goals and three assists for 21 points and McMahon added six goals and seven assists for 19 points. Donner will continue to attack from her forward position with McMahon playing midfield. Joining McMahon in the midfield are returning starters Kim Magill (Stillwater, Minn.) and Kendra Watson (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Each netted three goals during the 2005 campaign. The Pipers return three starting defenders from last season’s squad. Junior Christine Feely (Stillwater, Minn.) leads the trio, being named All-MIAC honorable mention a season ago. Sophomore Allyce Mohs (Chaska, Minn.) started all 18 games during her first-year season, and senior Katie Laase (Culver City, Calif.) is a three-year starter. Hamline will have a pair of physically gifted goalkeepers in senior Andrea Eilertson (Kiester, Minn.) and first-year Samantha Winkelman. Both are listed at 5-11 with outstanding hands. Eilertson started all 18 games for the Pipers last season, posting a 1.44 goals against average. Winkelman will also be expected to start. As a whole, Englund believes his team will be able to play at a faster pace, something that is essential in the MIAC. “I think we’re getting quicker,” Englund said. “In this conference, speed and speed of play are critical. We’ve learned how to defend in that environment, but we need to be able to do more than counterattack. We need to get into a mentality of wanting to control the game.” Complete Hamline preview at: http://www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/athletics/womens_soccer/2006/outlook.html |
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| Macalester College | 
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| Head Coach: | John Leaney (17th season / 253-56-22 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 20-0-2 (10-0-1 MIAC / 1st) | |
| Key Returners: | Annie Borton (Sr., F / Berkeley, Calif.) First team All-America; MIAC Player of the Year Grace King (So., F / ) MIAC goal-scoring leader Amy Hutchinson (Jr., MF / Minneapolis, Minn. / South) |
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| Season Preview: | The Scots are gearing up for another exciting season after reaching the NCAA quarter-final round and finishing at 20-0-2. Like the Mac men’s team, the Scots are going for their eighth MIAC championship in 10 years. They out-scored their opponents last season by a dominating 53-6 margin and didn’t yield a goal over the season’s final nine-plus games – a string of just over 900 minutes. Mac spent much of the season ranked No. 3 in the nation. Macalester graduated one of its best senior classes in the program’s history and lose four all-region players who helped the team go 61-10-11 (35-2-7 in the conference) over the past four years. This year’s team will be one of Mac’s youngest in years, featuring just two seniors and four juniors. Despite the losses, Macalester should be a very dangerous goal-scoring team, led by two-time All-America forward Annie Borton (Sr., Berkeley, Calif.), who enters her senior year with 42 goals and 27 assists. Borton is joined up front by Grace King (So., Northampton, Mass.) to give the Scots reliable scoring production. Each netted 12 goals last season. Meghan Garrity (Jr., Walled Lake, Mich. / Marian) contributed five goals and four assists, while the Scots also return veterans Amy Hutchinson (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn. / South), Anne Kintop (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest), Rachel Oman (Sr., Cedar Crest, N.M. / Albuquerque Academy) and Melissa Gustafson (So., Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata). |
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| College of Saint Benedict | 
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| Head Coach: | Kate McNeil (4th season / 35-14-6 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 10-5-2 (7-4-0 MIAC / Tied 4th) | |
| Key Returners: | Meg O’Neill (Sr. / M / 5-6 / Kasson, Minn. / Kasson-Mantorville) Started in 14 games for Saint Benedict, registered 20 shots on opposing goaltenders. Tina Lisk (So. / M/F / 5-6 / Louisville Colo. / Monarch) Started in 14 games, collected six goals and three assists on the season totaling a team-high 15 points. Rachel Loftus (So. / D / 5-9 / Savage, Minn. / Holy Angels) Started all 17 games for the Blazers, anchored the CSB defense that had an .86 goals against average on the season Jeannie Stubenvoll (Jr. / M / 5-3 / Duluth, Minn. / Marshall) Started in four games for the Blazers, assisted on one goal for the season |
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| Season Preview: | The Blazer soccer team, which finished with a record of 10-5-2 overall and a 7-4-0 MIAC mark last season will be preparing to make another run at the MIAC championship and the playoffs. Only three years removed from its MIAC championship, Saint Benedict fields a tough team featuring some new faces who promise to bring great dedication to the field in hopes of reinforcing CSB’s reputation as a fierce competitor in the MIAC. CSB will be returning their two senior captains, Meg O’Neill and Rachel Lindor, who have provided the Blazers with leadership throughout their careers. “Our team is young and having Meg and Rachel leading the team will be an advantage,” head coach Kate McNeil said. O’Neill, a four year veteran midfielder, has played a vital role in the Blazers’ progress towards the MIAC playoffs. O’Neill is the only returning member of the 2003 MIAC championship and playoff participant team. Her powerful direction on the field has translated into three career goals. “Meg is a creative player for our team at the midfield position,” McNeil said. "She has proved that she can cover the entire field, which makes her a great captain.” Lindor, who spent the 2005 season recovering from a torn ACL injury, will be back in action for Saint Benedict providing guidance and versatility from the midfield. “Rachel is a motivated player who has natural leading abilities,” McNeil said. “She is very knowledgeable of the game of soccer and will be making a lot of plays from the midfield position this season.” |
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| College of St. Catherine | 
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| Head Coach: | Steve Bellis (1st season / 0-0-0 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 5-10-2 (1-8-2 MIAC / Tied 10th) | |
| Key Returners: | Halie Vosler (Sr., Spearfish, SD) Nicki Kielsa (Jr., North St. Paul, Minn.) Jenna Undesser (So., Shakopee, Minn.) Danielle Wies (So., White Bear Lake, Minn.) |
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| Season Preview: | New head coach Steve Bellis will look to his three captains as the Wildcats look to improve on last season’s win total. The 2006 version of the Wildcats will include 18 veterans as well as several first-year players looking to contribute to the climb up the MIAC ladder. The three Wildcat captains who will be looked at for leadership both on and off the field by coach Bellis are; Halie Vosler (Sr., Spearfish, SD), Nicki Kielsa (Jr., North St. Paul, Minn.) and Jenna Undesser (So., Shakopee, Minn.). In addition, sophomore goalkeeper Danielle Wies (White Bear Lake, Minn.) will be looked at to strengthen the defensive side of the field for the Wildcats. Coach Bellis is very optimistic as he heads into his first season at the helm of the Wildcats, “It appears that we have a good mix of returning players to help guide our incoming players. I believe the leadership within the team is in place and the team will work hard to make improvements throughout the year,” stated Bellis. The Wildcats open their 2006 season participating in the BAS Classic in Redlands, California. The tournament will have the Wildcats facing Chapman University on September 1 and Oberlin College on September 2. The MIAC season begins on the road against 2005 conference champion and NCAA participant Macalester College on September 12 at 7:30pm. |
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| Saint Mary's University |
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| Head Coach: | Tony Guinn (3rd season / 20-15-1 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 13-5-0 (6-5-0 MIAC / 6th) | |
| Key Returners: | Lisa Tlougan (Jr., For., Rochester, Minn. / Rochester Century) 18 GP, 6 goals, 14 points – both team highs Kendra Maloney (Jr., Mid., Green Bay, Wis. / Green Bay Preble) 17 GP, 6 assists – team high – 14 points Bridgette Baggio (Jr., For., Glenville, Ill. / Glenbrook South) 4 goals, 4 assists, 12 points Jennifer Johnson (Sr., GK, Racine, Wis. / Racine Horlick) 18 GP, school-record 0.42 GAA, 110 saves, .940 save % |
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| Season Preview: | Seven wins in 2004. Thirteen wins in 2005. The Saint Mary's University women's soccer team has been on the rise the past two seasons. And coach Tony Guinn is confident that his Cardinals haven't even come close to peaking. Not by a long shot. "This team really accomplished a lot last season," said Guinn, whose team closed out its 2005 campaign with a 13-5-0 overall record — the most wins by a Cardinal team since 1994, when they went 16-3-1 and lost to UC-San Diego in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. "In my two years here, I think we have taken some positive steps forward." In the span of just two years under Guinn, the Cardinals have climbed from the depths of a 3-14-1 season in 2003, to last year's 13-5-0 effort. In his first season at the helm, Guinn began the Cardinals' climb, as SMU posted a 7-10-1 overall record in 2004. And while the Cardinals' transformation is far from complete, SMU's 2005 performance — an improvement of 5.5 wins — did rank the Cardinals 10th among the most improved teams in all of NCAA Division III. "We were in a lot of very close ball games, and, more often than not, we were able to find a way to win," said Guinn, whose team held its opponents to one goal or less in 16 of their 18 games — including 10 shutout wins. "Our goal is to continue to improve every year — we made great strides from my first year to last year, and, hopefully, we will be able to continue that trend this coming season." Hopefully? When you return nine of your 11 starters — including All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference goalkeeper Jennifer Johnson (Racine, Wis.) — it's a pretty safe bet the Cardinals will find themselves in the MIAC playoff mix in late October. "There's no doubt that our team's goals are to advance into our MIAC playoffs and earn a berth in the national tournament," said Guinn, whose 2005 team cracked into the regional rankings for the first time since 1999. "We were a very young team last year and the experience they got will be a bonus for us this year. "The key to being successful in the MIAC is depth, and our overall team depth is the best it's been since I've been here." Complete SMU women’s soccer preview: http://sports.smumn.edu/w_soccer/2006/newsletter/wspreview.html |
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| St. Olaf College | 
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| Head Coach: | Jeremy Driver (1st season / 0-0-0 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 7-9-1 (5-6-0 MIAC / 7th) | |
| Key Returners: | Kelsey Watt (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley) Anna Feigum (Sr. Moorhead, Minn.) Becca Nagel (Sr., Boulder, Colo.) Karen Thiebes (Jr., Medford, Ore.) Katie Bierlein (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) |
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| Season Preview: | With a first-year head coach Jeremy Driver and a strong group of returning starters, the St. Olaf women's soccer team looks forward to a strong and successful 2006 season. Driver, a 1994 graduate of St. Olaf, has spent the last three seasons in the same capacity at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. Driver is thrilled to be back at St. Olaf and looks forward to a successful first season with the Oles. Among the best of the returning starters includes three-time team MVP and two-time All-MIAC forward Kelsey Watt (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley). Watt had a team-best eight goals, including two game-winners, and 18 points in the 2005 season. Also returning up front will be Sophomore Jess Magnuson (Rochdale, Mass./Pomfret). Magnuson appeared in 14 and starting nine games, also netting three goals and one assist in the 2005 season. Holding up the middle will be a sound group of returning starters including Katie Bierlein (Sr., Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview), Liz Tanner (Sr., Columbia, Mo./Hickman) and Jenny Kallas (Soph., Minneapolis/South). Bierlein was named All-MIAC honorbale mention with a team high 70 shots, four goals and two assists in the previous season and will be looked upon to play a large role in the Oles' success this season. Tanner and Kallas also proved to be a crucial part of securing the middle starting 15 and 17 games, respectively. Kallas recorded two goals and three assists last season as well. Defensively, Becca Nagel (Sr., Boulder, Colo.) and Karen Thiebes (Jr., Medford, Ore.) will help solidify the backfield. The pair started in 15 and 17 games, respectively last season. In the net, Anna Feigum (Sr. Moorhead, Minn.) returns as goalie for the Oles. Feigum was starting keeper in 2004 and appeared in six games in 2005. She was 7-4-1 in 2004 and recorded five shutouts. The Oles also welcome newcomers Christina Mills (White Bear Lake, Minn./St. Paul Academy), Allison Mills (White Bear Lake, Minn./St. Paul Academy), Liz Brustad (Edina, Minn./Edina), Monica Sharrat (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) and Calli Olson (Eagan, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels). St. Olaf opens on Sept. 1 at home against Martin Luther College. Conference play begins on Sept. 12 at home against Augsburg. Complete St. Olaf preview at: http://fusion.stolaf.edu/athletics//index.cfm?fuseaction=NewsDetails&id=941 |
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| University of St. Thomas | 
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| Head Coach: | Colleen Carey (8th season / 80-39-12 overall) | |
| 2005 Record: | 9-8-1 (7-3-1 MIAC / 3rd) | |
| Key Returners: | Sarah Balgord (SR, F) Career: 17 goals/5a-39 points Jade Crepps (SR, F) 2X HM All-MIAC, Career: 11g-8a/30 points Stephanie Paasch (SO, D) HM All-MIAC Jessica Richter (JR, MF) 2005: started all 18 games Abigail Krause (SO, MF) 2005: started all 18 games Dana Vilar (SO, GK) 2005: 7 shutouts, 0.74 GAA in MIAC play |
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| Season Preview: | A young St. Thomas team used strong defense to turn around its 2005 season. Eighth-year head coach Colleen Carey hopes another young team can carry that momentum into 2006. For the second year in a row, the Tommies have just two seniors. But eight talented freshmen and seven sophomores have given the Toms better depth. With just five juniors and seniors on its 23-player roster last fall, St. Thomas surged late and posted a top-three MIAC finish for the eighth time in 10 seasons. The Tommies posted a .500 or better record for the 20th time in the 21-year history of St. Thomas' program. With virtually all freshmen and sophomores in goal or on defense, Carey's team won just two of its first eight games. But the players stayed positive and reeled off a 7-1-1 record in October, keyed by six consecutive shutouts, to finish third in the MIAC. The Tommies rallied to beat UW-LaCrosse 2-1 on Oct. 1, then broke a scoreless tie with four second-half goals to beat Hamline 4-0, on Oct. 2. Those wins seemed to jump start their season. Their closing 5-0-1 stretch included shutout wins over St. Olaf, Gustavus, St. Mary's, St. Catherine and St. Benedict, and a 0-0 tie with Augsburg. The Toms lost 3-0 at Concordia in the playoff semifinals to end their season 9-8-1. UST graduated two all-conference honorees -- Christine Williams (82 career points) and Jessica Magnuson (46 career points). But they return two honorable mention All-MIAC players in Jade Crepps (SR-Mpls./Southwest) and Stephanie Paasch (SO-Cottage Grove/Park) were chosen honorable mention All-MIAC. Crepps repeated as an honorable mention All-MIAC honoree. She had three goals and three assists and now has 28 points (11 goals, eight assists) in three seasons. Paasch had two goals and two assists, including the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over UW-LaCrosse. Sarah Balgord scored the game's only goal in overtime in the victory at St. Mary's. Defender Laura Baumgartner (SO-Monona, Wis./Monona-Grove) was named to the ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District second team. Baumgartner has a 3.96 gpa in Biochemistry and hopes to attend Pharmacy school after graduation. She has started all 36 games on her UST career on defense and has one career assist. Baumgardner, Abigail Krause (SO-Mpls./Benilde-St. Margaret)and started all 18 games as freshmen, and Courtney Walior (SO-Prior Lake) started 17 of 18. Two other team award winners return -- defender Carrie Lauterbach (SO-Appleton, Wis./Xavier) was chosen Most Improved; an last year's Rookie of the Year award went to goalie Dana Vilar (SO-Brookfield, Wis./East), who was in goal for six consecutive shutouts in October. Top newcomers include forward Alison True of Wauwatosa, Wis., East; and midfielders Elizabeth Messner of Hill-Murray High and Erin Sprangers of Hopkins High. |
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2005 MIAC Women's Soccer Links - Standings, Results, Awards, Final Stats, Players of the Week, Season Preview
2004 MIAC Women's Soccer Links - Standings, Results, Awards, Final Stats, Players of the Week, Season Preview
2003 MIAC Women's Soccer Links - Standings, Results, Awards, Final Stats, Players of the Week, Season Preview
2002 MIAC Women's Soccer Links - Standings, Results, Awards, Final Stats, Players of the Week, Season Preview
2001 MIAC Women's Soccer Links - Standings, Results, Awards, Final Stats, Players of the Week, Season Preview