They've Still Got It!!

Spring Season and Alumnae Game

    This spring season sure was a battle... with the weather that is!!  For our six spring practices, and Alumnae game, the coaching staff had three different surfaces booked EVERY time to be prepared for anything!  

Brit Chase takes on the Alumnae on the dribble.

    We began indoors in Lund Arena on the turf for our first practice back, finding our touch, getting reacquainted with how one another plays, and just playing a whole lot of small sided soccer!  We followed up with a 3v3 tournament in our racquet ball courts, nicknamed Da Sneaka Soul, with Team Timbs: Emily Papagapitos, Kirsten Palan, and Heather Goff taking the title!!

   The weather finally started to cooperate and we were able to get out onto Hollingsworth Field turf (football stadium) for practices three, four and five.  Mixing in a series of drills to work on communication and first touch with a whole lot of playing.  There were 2v2 games, 3v3 games, 4v4, 6v6, 8v8... we nearly hit them all!

Alumnae possess, but are pressured quick.

   FINALLY after what seemed like forever, we were able to get on our practice fields for the final practice of the Spring Season.  We had a 3v3 street soccer tournament, complete with a match-up board, with the teams switching every game.  

A running joke throughout the Spring Season,
Coach Burnett-Kurie ties Amanda Cartony's
ribbon in her hair... she's allowed to wear it
(much to Coach's dismay) if she "cele's"
every time she scores a goal this fall.

   A constant throughout all Spring Season were our individual team competitions.  Each individual player could win points in ANY small-sided game to be crowned "Rooball Champion".  They were awarded 6 to 10 points for a win, 1 for a tie, 3 for a shutout, and a point for EVERY goal scored.  That's a lot of points to calculate folks!  Next there was our "Chase Brit Cup", named for freshman Brit Chase who was the only student-athlete to come in and get ZERO points on her preseason fitness testing.  So you guessed it, this was our fitness competition for the spring.  For being the first 3 or 4 members of the team to complete a fitness exercise these girls were awarded points.  No competition would be complete without an overall champion though... This competition started out named "Champion of the World", but was quickly renamed by the team... "QUEEN OF THE WORLD"  because after all, isn't soccer your world?!  It's absolutely ours!!  This member of the team would be the player who amounted the MOST OVERALL points throughout both competitions...  All winners have yet to be announced, so you're going to have to wait patiently like the rest of the team. :)

   Our culmination of Spring Season was a blustery, but awesome Alumnae game!  We had 12 alumnae return, including current seniors: Nikki Carlson, Tam Meuwissen, Maggie Lane, Kristin Moen, and Meghan Zenner '13 as well as Meghan Faricy'11, Karen Stenoien '11, Abby Maus '11, Nicole Kwapick '11, Mackenzie Del Santro '11, Meghan McMillan '12 and Nicole Ektuitphong '15 who took it to the current Gusties and were able to squeak out a win on Meghan Faricy's single goal for a 1-0 WIN.  After the game, alums and current Gusties mixed over burgers, hot dogs and a few veggie burgers while they caught up on life, soccer and all things Gustavus and otherwise.  All and all it was a great exclamation point on a quick, fun, hard working Spring Season!  

Current Women's Soccer Gusties and Alumnae unite after the battle!

We know for a fact the current Gusties are already fired up over their loss and ready for next year's rematch... Alums, you better start training now!!  We can't wait to have you all back again next year!

Team-Work is the Best Work

Helping Out in the Community

Need a lift?!  Freshman Anna Basil picks up
Senior Tam Meuwissen to reach the really high spots!

Some of the Gustavus Women's Soccer team got their hands dirty over the weekend and pitched in to help out an elderly couple in St. Peter.  Tam Meuwissen who sparked the interest from the team writes about their few hours giving back:

"I am part of a group called the One Time Volunteers. Basicallywhat happens is you put your name on a sign-up sheet that is posted right outside the Center for Servant Leadership and you are put onto an email alias with a bunch of other people from this group who want to volunteer, but don't want to commit to a specific volunteer group. Anyone in the community can email the organizer of the group, Sara Sletten, and then she forwards these individual volunteer opportunities to the entire email alias. Anyone who is interested in volunteering for that certain event or opportunity can email them back directly to figure out more in depth volunteer details. 

Raking the day away!  Sophomores Caroline Olsen
and Heather Goff use their "guns" to get the job done!

This couple has emailed several times throughout the year asking for volunteers to help them do some basic yard work and upkeep of their house. They are both in their 80's and are former Gustie professors.  I thought it was a great opportunity now that the weather turned nicer!  

Weed away.  Sophomore Val Belanger and
Freshman Anna Basil also happen to be really good at weeding!

When we were there, we raked leaves, pulled weeds, and washed the outside of their windows. These two have a lot of trouble getting around, especially since Bill has recently had surgery on his back. We only stayed for about an hour but we accomplished a lot with the eight of us that were there. The old couple really appreciated it and made us cupcakes after we were done. We sat around for about ten minutes and just listened to them talk about their experience at Gustavus and how they came to live in St. Peter. They were extremely nice and one of the cutest old couples I have ever seen. 

This little effort meant the word to this couple. You could tell by the way they praised our work. This probably not only made their day, but their entire week, and we were more than happy to do it!"

-Tam Meuwissen, Senior

All smiles!  Happy to help, Karlye Smith washes some
windows in the front of the house.

ALUMNI GAME MAY 11th - UPDATE

We hope you are all planning on joining us for our 

Alumni Game Saturday May 11th!!

KICKOFF - 1:00 PM

On the practice fields by the baseball field!

See you there!!  We can hardly wait!!

A Good Laugh

Not Our Finest Moments: 2012 Season Bloopers

While the 2012 season was full of spectacular passing, gorgeous goals, nifty 1v1 moves and unbelievable saves, we've compiled three of our least finest moments for your viewing pleasure.  Each of these three girls is a tremendous athlete, a fierce competitor and a key component of our team... but they've all had better moments on the soccer field!

Take a moment and watch the video.... when you're done laughing, vote on which moment deserves the title "2012 Blooper of the Year"!

Which blooper was the "2012 Blooper of the Year" for the Gustavus Women's Soccer team?
	#1: Sophomore Heather Goff gets whacked in the face with the ball and goes flat!
	#2: Senior Tam Meuwissen out running her own legs, wiping out and then wanting a call from the official.
	#3: Junior Amanda Cartony loses track of her own header to have it come back and hit her on the head.
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Gustie Soccer Announces Summer Camp Dates

For more information on both our summer camps, including camp brochures and online registration, please check out GACsoccercamps.com

Gustie Soccer Co-Ed Youth Camp: June 23-27th, 2013 

Gustie Soccer Camp 2012

Our Gustie Soccer Co-Ed Youth Camp is a resource for soccer players, ages 9-14, of Southwestern Minnesota.  Our goals are to provide quality instruction, create a positive learning environment and to have fun.  We encourage players from various backgrounds and abilities to attend, as the majority of each session will be individual skill training progressing to small-sided games.  

Our camp brochure and online registration can be found at GACsummercamps.com. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Head Coach Laura Burnett-Kurie at lburnett@gustavus.edu or Assistant Coach Andrea Rosenthal at arosent2@gustavus.edu.  

Gustie Soccer High School Girls Camp: July 7-10th

Gustavus Women's Soccer is hosting their first annual High School Girls Soccer Camp from July 7-10th, 2013.  Our summer camp is designed to provide an environment for players who aspire to take their game to the next level through advanced player development and exposure to NCAA collegiate coaches.  We will prepare high school girls for college soccer both on and off the pitch through quality position based coaching, college level sessions, and evening matches based on different formations.  We will also hold daily presentations focused on recruiting, diet and nutrition, optimal performance and injury prevention.  

If you are interested in attending Gustavus in the future, we recommend you attend our summer camp as it will give you a great opportunity to showcase your ability over 4 days through position specific drills, small sided games and full-field scrimmages.  You will also be able to see the campus, meet several of our current players, and be coached by the Gustie coaching staff in practices and games.  

Our camp brochure and online registration can be found at GACsummercamps.com. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Head Coach Laura Burnett-Kurie at lburnett@gustavus.edu or Assistant Coach Andrea Rosenthal at arosent2@gustavus.edu.  

We're the Entertainment!

Men's and Women's Soccer Hosts Gustavus Saturday Night in Lund! 

Giant inflatable obstacle course!

Organizations throughout campus compete for a chance to host a Saturday Night in Lund and the opportunity to bring fun activities to campus.  The organization S.A.V.E, or Student Athlete Volunteer Educators, choose groups with exciting plans to bring new and fun activities to Lund Center.  The Men's and Women's Soccer teams combined to host a truly memorable SNL on March 2nd!  From an inflatable obstacle course, to Chipotle, to dodgeball and face painting, and MORE!  When 1:00 AM rolled around and it was time to go both teams had to KICK people out of Lund they were having so much fun and did not want to go!

Line out the door for Chipotle!

Liz showing off Basil's awesome face painting job!

Anna Basil brought everyone back to their childhood and was a hit with the face painting, not leaving her station until they kicked her out!  In the meantime, Liz Underwood, Emily Papagaptios, Ana Gleason and Coach Burnett-Kurie spent nearly forty minutes pegging dodgeballs at each other... where did the time go?  I guess it's just too much fun to try and hit Coach.






The Chipotle brought in the early crowds with lines out the doors, but the students stuck around to see how fast they could get through the inflatable obstacle course and continued to stay for rounds and rounds of dodgeball.  A total of 264 students came out to March 2nd's SNL, with a goal of 150, the teams more than surpassed their goal!

Dodgeball!

The late-night round of pizza was a big hit... but sure left Coach's office smelling yummy.  Hard to resist 25 pizzas laying around the office for a few hours!

Karlye and Caroline goofing off!

Happy teammates!

Saturday Nights in Lund is a great alternative option for students from the parties that take place on and off campus on the weekends.  All and all, it was an extremely successful SNL event!

A little snow storm, now months later... when's the Banquet?

2012 Season Banquet

2012 Gustavus Women's Soccer

After a snow storm came through Minnesota and cancelled our first attempt at a banquet back in December, we finally got the 2012 Banquet off the ground on Sunday February 17th at Charley's Restaurant and Lounge in Mankato.  Nineteen girls from the team were joined by their families to celebrate and remember a great fall season.  Coach Burnett-Kurie summed up our season highlights and marked some memorable moments for the players and their parents to share.  We honored our five seniors again; Nikki Carlson, Maggie Lane, Tam Meuwissen, Kristin Moen and Jess Richert, forcing Jess to hug each of her coaches no less than three times in one evening.

Seniors (L-R): Maggie Lane, Kristin Moen, Tam Meuwissen,
Nikki Carlson & Jess Richert

We also awarded our 2012 awards, chosen by the team, for Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Top Newcomer, Most Improved and "Teach Me How to Gustie".

Top Newcomer: Brittany Chase, Freshman.  This first year athlete may have come into preseason nervous and unsure, but after three days of testing she was the only player in the entire program to have ZERO points from fitness testing.  She came in with knowledge and experience as a defender, but this coaching staff had other plans.  We quickly threw her into drills as a forward, and using her size, skills and knowledge of the game she found her groove and was quick to find success.  She scored three goals and had one assist this season with only potential for more!  Need an outside back in a pinch?  Not a problem!  A quick run from the forward line and she played as if she had never left the position.  For her versatility and skill, Brit Chase, the team has chosen you the 2012 Top Newcomer.

Sophomores (L-R): Caroline Olson, Karlye Smith,
Heather Goff and Valerie Belanger

Most Improved: Caroline Olson, Sophomore.  This Gustie was a staple of hard work all season long.  From the first preseason test to the last game of "Touch Post", it was evident she possessed the desire to improve and succeed.  She pushed herself at every practice, challenged herself to play better, faster, quicker, and things started to improve.  Her hands got softer, her feet got faster and she started consistently making saves she had not earlier in the season.  Her teammates and coaches saw a steady improvement, along with an increase in her confidence to make difficult saves.  This is why this years Most Improved Player goes to Caroline Olson.

"Teach Me How to Gustie": Maggie Lane, Senior. This award is given to the Gustie Women's Soccer player who is voted by her teammates to best embody everything it means to be a Gustie on the Women's Soccer team.  Hard work, dedication, positive attitude, killer work ethic and someone who the team looks up to and relies on for moral support are a few of the attributes this special player possesses.  This girl truly embodies what it means to be a Gustie and play for her teammates.  This years winner is a player who constantly had a smile on her face, brought every ones work ethic to the next level and was a positive leader on and off the field.  She also had two of our best goals this season, propelling the team to its first conference win against St. Benedict's.  For her smile, her hard work and for teaching this entire team "how to Gustie", Maggie Lane we award you the inaugural "Teach Me How To Gustie" Award.

Senior Tam Meuwissen and Freshman
Brittany Chase

Offensive Player of the Year: Amanda Cartony, Junior.  If you think about dangerous players, this girl would surely jump to the top of the list for our team, heck the entire MIAC.  She has the skill and passion to be a game changer in every movement, every run, every touch on the ball.  Her creativity on and off the ball develops plays, opens the field up and generates scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.  Our leading scorer with five goals and two assists, she led our offense with her technical skills, work ethic and knowledge of the game.  She consistently brought the level of play of the those around her to new heights.  She is a key player in our offense and for our team.  She had two game winning goals this season, scoring twice at St. Mary's, the second to put us back in the lead after they tied it up, as well as the game-winning goal in a hard fought battle with Hamline.  For all these reasons, it is obvious why the team has voted you, Amanda Cartony, Offensive Player of the Year.

Junior Amanda Cartony and Senior Nikki Carlson

Defensive Player of the Year: Estee Berg, Junior.  This defender was a force on the back-line all season long.  She played consistent shut-down defense with her patient break-down and never give up mentality.  Even if an opponent got by her, she would reappear back in front of them to make them beat her all over again.  Tough as nails; a bloody mouth, a rolled ankle (or two), nothing could stop her from shutting down opponents.  Patch up the cut, stop the bleeding, tape her ankle and throw her right back on the field, she didn't even flinch.  Her speed makes her dangerous on both sides of the ball, often proving that the best defense is a good offense, she would join the attack, showing she was dynamic and hard to defend herself!  Her work rate, team first mentality and coachability make her a valuable asset to this team.  All of these things combined give you Estee Berg, the Defensive Player of the Year.

Team MVP: Jess Richert, Senior.  It is no surprise this player was voted the 2012 Women's Soccer MVP. Her consistently stellar performances in the net this season kept this team in more than one game.  The highlight reel of her saves is more than enough proof that she will lay everything on the line for her team, and literally lays out for them!  Her performance in the Hamline game preserved our win, even when they threw eight forwards at us; her unbelievable saves in our Bethel game kept the score knotted at zero for nearly the entire 90 minutes giving us a fighting chance; and her aggressive play and full out extensions sent the Augsburg game into overtime.  She is a fierce competitor, a stoic leader, and picks up the play of this team with just a stare.  Her dedication, drive, desire to do more, high individual and team expectations and amazing antics will be sorely missed with her departure.  Her unbelievable 1.54 GAA in 1523 minutes more than speaks for itself.  Congratulations to this year's MVP, Jess Richert.

We would also like to give thanks to all those individuals behind the scenes who help our program continue to be so successful, including: Athletic Directors Tom Brown and Jared Phillips; Athletic Trainers Mitch Deets, Troy Banse, Mitch Bockenstedt, Matt Eberhardt, and Mara Riedell; Sports Information Directors Ethan Armstrong and Tyler Grey; Administrative Assistant Barb Rodning; Equipment Manager Wayne Norman; as well as our grounds keepers and game management staff.