2011 MSOE women's soccer preview
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Published: 08/16/2011 |
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Eight seniors will ensure that the MSOE women's soccer team will have plenty of experience and leadership in 2011. The Raiders are coming off a school best 8-2-2 record in Northern Athletics Conference action. MSOE was 11-7-2 overall last year including a six-match winning streak during September.
"This year we have many leaders on this team," Zersen said. "We have tons of experience and our players are unique. They are all leaders in some way. Obviously, the captains will hold a huge part of leading the team."
Senior midfielder Mindy Donald (Fredonia, Wis./Ozaukee) is back for her final season at MSOE and is a two-time First Team All-NAC honoree. Her 14 assists in 2009 are the most ever by a Raider in a single season. Senior defender Karina Weideman (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) has been named Second Team All-NAC the last two seasons.
Looking to extend her all-time school scoring record will be senior forward Jessica Axt (Germantown, Wis./Germantown). Axt is the all-time leading goal scorer in school history with 48 goals. She had 15 goals and 37 points and was named Second Team All-NAC last season. Axt had four goals against Concordia-Chicago on Oct. 16.
Senior midfielder Jamie Janczak (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) recorded ten assists in 2010 which put her in a tie for second all-time in a single season at MSOE. Senior midfielder/defender Melanie Monreal (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) has started 61 games in her career as a Raider.
"I see Jessica Axt having another break-out season with help from our other forwards and midfielders such as Mindy, Melanie and Jamie," Zersen said. "Kate Herrmann (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) has been playing very well and has earned the respect of the team and the opportunity to be a huge contributor to the program. Mary Roath (Fox Lake, Ill./Grant Community) has really worked hard and committed herself to the team. Through this hard work and commitment she will be even more successful as she helps us up top."
Senior defenders Shanna Cowman (Seward, Ill./Winnebago) and Natalie Villegas (Milwaukee, Wis./Hamilton) each bring valuable experience to the Raiders back line.
Sophomore forward Paula Bohl (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) was named First Team All-NAC and will look for an encore to her great season last year. Bohl led the Raiders with 22 goals and 51 points which both broke school records for a single season. Nationally, Bohl finished 12th in the NCAA in goals and 15th in points. In the NAC, she was second in points and third in goals. Bohl had four goals against both Maranatha Baptist on Sept. 16 and Wisconsin Lutheran on Sept. 18.
"We have the same expectations as every year," Zersen said. "We want to be in the top of the conference, make the playoffs and hopefully get to the NCAA tournament. Our team is more than capable of doing this. However, this year we have one of the hardest schedules ever. It will be a great season of learning and hopefully achieving our goals."
Sophomores Jenna Harvestine (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) and Allison Zimont (Plainwell, Mich./Plainwell) were named to the NAC All-Freshman Team for their performance during the 2010 season. Zimont also had ten assists to match Janczak.
"Allison Zimont and Jenna Harvestine will take on further responsibilities as they have proved themselves to be quality soccer players," Zersen said. "They both possess exceptional skill and ability that helped them to be recognized in the conference."
Junior Emma Lumpe (Lawrence, Kansas/Lawrence) is MSOE's starting goalie and had a goals against average of 1.35 with two shutouts last season.
"I see Emma Lumpe as establishing herself as one of the top goalkeepers in the conference," Zersen said. "She has worked hard in the spring and summer to be ready to go physically and mentally. She is hungry for more quality starts and showings in games."
Lumpe will be backed up by freshman Emily Jakubiak (Mequon, Wis./Homestead).
Plenty of newcomers will be in the mix to earn time out on the pitch for MSOE in 2011.
"Both Shelby Struble (Steamboat Springs, Co./Steamboat Springs) and Gabbie Pung (Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West) have the potential to earn big minutes in just their first year. Kelsey Jones (Racine, Wis./Washington Park) and Jakubiak have the experience and ability to help this year and will be huge leaders on the team as they move through the program. Maureen Thompson (Grayslake, Ill./Carmel Catholic), Gretchen Grams (Big Bend, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and Sarah Bower (Charleston, Ill./Charleston) all have great experience and are expected to help us in their various areas."
The season begins Labor Day weekend in St. Louis, Mo. with matches against Principia and Webster. The NAC portion of the schedule will commence Sept. 6 against Concordia-Chicago at Time Warner Cable Stadium in Milwaukee.
"We are a very strong defensive team," Zersen said. "We pride ourselves in quality defense, both individually and as a team. It is rare for us to get blown out. If we have anything to improve upon it is managing the tough games. Of our losses last year, almost all of them were by 1 goal. We have had our opportunities to close the big games but just have not done so. Hopefully, we can improve upon this in the upcoming season."
