2010 Season Recap
Seven members of the MSOE women's soccer team garnered mention by the Northern Athletics Conference as the conference announced their awards for the 2010 season. Freshman forward Paula Bohl (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) was named First Team All-NAC.
The last Raider to be named First Team All-NAC as a freshman was current junior forward Jessica Axt (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) who was selected to the Second Team All-NAC for her performance this season. Senior defender Sarah Kislia (Janesville, Wis./Janesville Craig) and junior defender Karina Weideman (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) were also both picked to the Second Team All-NAC.
Defender Jenna Harvestine (Sussex, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) and midfielder Allison Zimont (Plainwell, Mich./Plainwell) were named to the All-Freshman Team while senior midfielder Heidi Brehmer (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) was selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team. Brehmer was recently named to the CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-District Third Team for District 5.
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.
Axt was second on MSOE with 15 goals and 37 points. In the NAC, Axt was sixth in points and eighth in goals. She also had four goals against Concordia-Chicago on Oct. 16. Axt is the all-time leading goal scorer in school history with 48 goals.
Kislia, Weideman and Harvestine anchored the Raiders' defense which logged six shutouts during the 2010 campaign. Zimont was tied for the lead on the team with ten assists which was for fourth in the NAC. She had three assists against Wisconsin Lutheran on Sept. 18.
Brehmer had 31 goals, 20 assists and 82 points during her career at MSOE. The 31 goals are tied for the second most in school history. Brehmer was named to the First Team All-NAC in 2007 and Second Team All-NAC in 2008. She scored a team-leading 12 goals during her freshman season in 2007.
MSOE finished the 2010 season with an 11-7-2 overall record and was 8-2-2 in the NAC. The year was highlighted by a six-match winning streak in September.
2010 Women's Soccer Preview
With a roster full of experience, the MSOE women's soccer team will be in the hunt for the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) championship. The Raiders finished fifth in the NAC in 2009 with a record of 10-8-3 overall and 7-3-1 in conference and advanced to the semifinals of the NAC Tournament.
"We have a very good senior class that has the experience to lead the way," said head coach Rolf Zersen who enters his seventh season at the helm.
That senior class includes midfielder Mindy Donald (Fredonia, Wis./Ozaukee) who named to the First Team All-NAC in 2009. Donald set the MSOE record for most assists in a season in 2008 with 14. Every member of this year's senior class played in at least 18 games last season. In their career, MSOE's six seniors have played in a combined 319 games and started 303.
"I see us as a challenger to the conference, however it is up to the team," Zersen said. "If they want it, they can achieve greatness. Last year we ended in fifth place and did well in the conference playoffs. This team is anxious to prove themselves and the seniors want to go out with a bang."
Senior forward/midfielder Heidi Brehmer (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) is tied for third in career goals in MSOE history (29) and was selected to the First Team All-NAC in 2007 and Second Team All-NAC in 2008. Senior defender Allison Plank (Appleton, Wis./Appleton West) received NAC Honorable Mention status last season after starting all 21 games in 2009.
Midfielder Colleen Krechel (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington), defender Sarah Kislia (Janesville, Wis./Janesville Craig) and forward/goalie Erin VandenLangenberg (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) round out the Raiders' senior class.
"My expectations are that our team is united," Zersen said. "I want to have a team that enjoys playing hard, sacrificing for each other and is willing to do the unseen. Unselfish play and commitment are goals for this team. With some hard work and team camaraderie, this team can go far."
Junior midfielder/forward Jessica Axt (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) is already the leading goal scorer in MSOE history with 33 goals including 13 during the 2009 season. Junior defender Karina Weideman (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) and junior midfielder Jamie Janczak (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) were selected to the Second Team All-NAC last season. Janczak scored eight goals and logged seven assists in 2009.
Junior midfielder/defender Melanie Monreal (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) has started all 41 games in her MSOE career.
Time in goal will be split between VandenLangenberg and sophomores Emma Lumpe (Lawrence, Kansas/Lawrence) and Brittany Charles (Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay East). Lumpe was selected to the NAC All-Freshman as well named Honorable Mention.
Zersen believes his team learned valuable lessons during the 2009 season.
"The biggest lesson was to take the chances when given the opportunity," Zersen said. "Nothing is given to you. There were numerous games where we started to play a little too late. That is a tough lesson but also very important to a team that wants to be recognized among the best in the conference and state."
The newest members of the Raiders are expected to contribute right away to MSOE's success.
"The biggest thing I expect is that all the freshmen will learn in their first year through practice sessions and time on the field in preparation for the graduation of a celebrated senior class," Zersen said.
The Raiders begin their 2010 season against Carroll University at Uihlein Soccer Park September 1 and the NAC schedule starts September 11 against Rockford College, also at Uihlein Soccer Park.
