Happy Holidays From Gustavus Women's Soccer

May the holiday season bring happiness and joy to you and your loved ones. 

 --  Women's Soccer and the entire Gustie Family 

Off Season Play

Some Gusties left Coach Andrea a little gift "on" her desk while she was out of the office for a few weeks...

Tam and Nikki wrapping up Coach Andrea's desk.

Next thing you know they've recruited Street and have got "Da Boss' Cup" all wrapped up!

The finished product.

Kudos to Estee on the idea and Nikki, Tam and Street on the execution.  All I know is, you all may want to watch out for the return "gift" from Dre!

Why Gustavus?

We know you are asking yourself the question, "why should I choose Gustavus?" Here are the top five reasons, in no particular order, we feel Gustavus Adolphus College is the best... 

1.  COMMUNITY

Vibrant downtown of St. Peter, MN

Gustavus is located in the lovely town of St. Peter, MN, 65 miles southwest of the Twin Cities and 12 miles north of Mankato.  Nestled in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley, St. Peter has that small-town feel everyone is looking for. Locals are friendly and very involved in the community, evident with St. Peter's vibrant downtown filled with local businesses, a farmers market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, in-the-park movies, and outdoor festivals filled with live music.  We even have the St. Peter Pearly Gates!  Make your way here to see for yourself!

Local Farmers Market

Live Music at the Rock Bend Festival

St. Peter Pearly Gates

2.  ACADEMICS

Here at Gustavus we like to breed "A" students.  Gustavus Adolphus College is known for its academic quality, which is measured in many ways: coeducational liberal arts education, student-to-faculty ration of 11:1, average class size of 15, 93% retention rate for first year students, and the nationally renowned Nobel Conference, to name a few. The College takes academics very seriously, so if you are planning on being a student-athlete, "student" always comes first.  We have a wide variety of majors and minors, for every unique person and over 90% of students participate in some type of experiential education during their time at Gustavus.  Part of the mission of Gustavus "is to help its students attain their full potential as persons, to develop in them a capacity and passion for lifelong learning, and to prepare them for fulfilling lives of leadership and service in society."

Nobel Conference

3.  SCHOOL SIZE

Gustavus Adolphus has a walking campus

 In our player's opinion, the school size is very COOL.  With a student body of 2,500, it's comforting to walk around campus and see familiar faces.  It's very rare to go to the Market Place (also known as The Caf) or the Library and not run into someone you know.  Also, as stated in the Academics section, the student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 is excellent.  Not only do the small class sizes keep you accountable for your work, it also helps you learn.  It's a lot easier to ask a question in class or feel comfortable staying after to talk with your professors when there are only 14 other students in your class.  You're professors genuinely want to get to know you on a personal level and are interested in providing you with the education and resources you deserve.

Average Class Size of 15

4.  THE FOOD 

The Market Place

Receiving an A+ Grade from the College Prowler, Gustavus Adolphus has some of the best college food in the country.  The Market Place, aka The Caf, is centrally located in the Jackson Campus Center and is open every day from 7:00am-11:00pm.  Offering a wide variety of food options, including a rotisserie, made-to-order subs, pizzas, pastas, hamburgers, Mexican, Chinese, vegetarian, a salad bar and even a gluten-free area, students never get bored of the options. Plus, the selections at these stations change on a daily basis.  On top of all those options, there is a bakery where you can find a plethora of freshly made pastries and desserts and even order your roommates birthday cake! Don't forget to memorize the pizzeria number, which makes stellar pizza and cheesy bread and can be ordered for pickup anytime while The Caf is open.

Rotisserie

Fresh Baked Goods from the Bakery 

Order a Pizza from the Pizzeria

5.  SOCCER

2012 Gustie Soccer Team 

SO, what's the best thing about being on the Gustavus Women's Soccer Team?  Well, cross "home-sickness" off your list as you will have instant best friends and form bonds that will never be broken.  The team becomes your family, which is great for students moving away from home for college. Also,  with three full-sized practice fields for varsity soccer alone, as well as a top-of-the-art olympic size grass competition field, the Gustavus soccer facilities are amazing to say the least.  Imagine this: first game of the season, you step onto the game field for the first time sending chills up your back, you're warming up to a great pump-up mix and you've got the gorgeous blue skies of Minnesota on the horizon.  Not only are you playing the sport you love, but fans are out cheering you on.  If that's not a great feeling, then we don't know what is.

The Gustie Soccer Game Field

Now you see why we feel Gustavus is the best-- Hopefully you feel the same!

Finding the Gustie Tempo

2012 Season in Review

It is going to be hard to sum up the 2012 Gustie Women's Soccer season in a few paragraphs and a few pictures, but we will try!  With the arrival on campus of the 20 girls who would eventually make up your 2012 Gustie's, it was clear they would be a team full of passion, energy, fun and quirks! 

Rousing game of "Cream and Crackers"

Wasting no time, the Gusties jumped into preseason  on August 18th with triples to get ready for the season.  The girls got into a rhythm and cliqued on and off the field quickly.  Passing drills, technical work and scrimmages every night capped off the long days.  It wasn't all work and no play though, with Coach LBK introducing a season long favorite: Cream and Crackers for warm-up and plenty of games of pelt.

Pool sessions were a must to relieve tired muscles during preseason, and then came the excitement and relief to start playing games.  The Gusties began with a trip to Wisconsin to face off against UW-Osh Kosh and UW-Stevens Point.  Two tough opponents to open the season, but the girls were eager to see their hard-work from preseason pay off.  Focusing on a possession style of play, our Gustie Tempo was a continual process throughout the year, but the effort and thought from the very beginning was evident.  Squeeze in an epsom salt bath between games and the girls will tell you it was a weekend, and a bath, they will not soon forget!

After the first WIN of the season!

Back on campus, the Black and Gold rallied for their first win of the season against Martin Luther, with six different girls finding the back of the net in the 7-0 victory.  The win also marked Coach Burnett-Kurie's first win as a collegiate Head Coach.  The girls would take that momentum to Crown College and put three more in the net, including the first header goal of the season from Tam Meuwissen.

On to MIAC play, where rivals St. Olaf and Concordia came out strong.  Despite the losses, the battle and fight that would persevere in the this team throughout the season was displayed.  Playing and fighting through the final whistle was a constant for the 2012 Gusties and gave them drive and hope every game. 

Senior Maggie Lane

Up to St. Benedict's to take on the reigning conference champs... more like TAKE THEM DOWN!  From two first half goals by Maggie Lane the Gusties held on for the victory and the first conference win of the season.  Rolling on to St. Mary's the Gusties rallied back to score a second goal after the Cardinals tied  up the score early in the 2nd half.  A stingy defense led by Nikki Carlson was key in keeping St. Mary's off the scoreboard after that.  Two conference wins in a row! Throw in an awesome morning at a high ropes course in Mankato between those two games and the Gusties were literally flying high!! 

Words of encouragement from below.

Nothing seemed to go right for the Gusties at Carleton this year, but the resilient women's soccer team bounced back with a 1-0 victory on the Gustie Soccer Field against Hamline, behind the STELLAR play of goalkeeper Jess Richert.  Her performance in net throughout the season was truly remarkable, but to hold off the onslaught of offense Hamline pushed with in the 2nd half was tremendous.

Next it was a series of one goal losses for the Gusties, but the fight, determination and Gustie Tempo were ever present.  The ladies in Black and Gold never went down without a fight, keeping Bethel off the scoreboard until the final five minutes and forcing the eventual MIAC Runner-Up, Augsburg, to overtime.  

Gustavus Women's Soccer with the U12 St. Peter Girls

Then it was the Inaugural Yuwa "Kicking for the Cause" game against Buena Vista where 100% of the proceeds went to support the the non-profit organization.  YUWA provides young women in rural India with a platform to gain confidence to make a change in their world.  Gustavus women's soccer teamed up with the U12 St. Peter Girls Youth team to be their ball girls and have a mini halftime game.  Raising over $550 in total for Yuwa, the Gusties also kicked their way to victory with Kristin Moen tallying her first goal of the season.

Gusties celebrate a goal.

It was a series of corners that proved the difference in the game against St. Thomas, but they were never dangerous beyond that.  It was the Gusties who ended up with two 1v1s with the St. Thomas keeper late in the second half, putting the Tommies on their heels until the final buzzer.  St. Catherine's was a total Gustie show, with Gustavus pressing and pushing towards net the entire game.  One long ranged kick by the Wildcats dropped quickly and fell in the net for the only goal of the game and another tough 1-0 decision for the Gusties.

The final senior game against Macalaster was a tough match up with the Scots getting on the board early.  Despite being down, the consistent Gustie fight was there throughout, truly playing to their Gustie Tempo style of play that evolved into a mix of possession, grit and passion.

MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention

Juniors Estee Berg and Amanda Cartony along with Senior Jess Richert were all named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention with Senior Maggie Lane being named to the MIAC Sportsmanship Team.

Players of the Week October 22nd-27th: The Seniors

The 2012 Senior Class: Kristin Moen, Nikki Carlson, Tam Meuwissen, Maggie Lane and Jess Richert

Nikki Carlson, Kristin Moen, Jess Richert, Maggie Lane, Tam Meuwissen

The contributions the 2012 Seniors have made on the Gustavus Women's Soccer Program are tremendous and will be enduring.  From the very start it was evident the seniors were strong leaders, positive role models and hard working individuals.  Each player brought something different to the table, a unique personality to the team and overall have significantly impacted the program in their four years, especially as it moves forward into a new era.

There is Captain Maggie Lane who earned her starting forward position this year through everything she did in the offseason, every day at practice, as well as every game.  Her smile consistently lit up practices and her drive to succeed pushed her teammates to new heights.  She contributed 2 goals and 1 assist on the season, netting both those goals in the Gusties 2-1 victory over last years MIAC Champions St. Benedict's.

Senior Nikki Carlson anchored the back line all season, playing in 61 games throughout her tenure with the Black and Gold.  A solid leader and strong defender, she is smart and poised.  She brought a veteran mind and tremendous soccer IQ to the field in every practice and game. Her undying passion for soccer was contagious.

In the net, Jess Richert was been a mainstay and a constant rock for the Gusties.  Totaling 138 saves on the season, it is clear what Jess has meant to the Gusties.  She has been the wall behind the defense, keeping the Gusties tight and competitive in so many matches.  Her gutsy, no pain-no gain mentality was a driving force at every practice and game.  She helped her teammates strive to be better, work harder and never give up.

Forward Tam Meuwissen is one of the hardest working people you will ever meet.  She was competitive and driven, pushing herself to improve at every practice and game.  Never satisfied with her best, she worked to do better.  Her attitude and drive has rubbed off on the entire program and will leave a lasting impression on the program.  She tripled her scoring this year, providing a spark on the field.  The entire team knew Tam would be working her hardest and her teammates strived to match that.

It was clear from the first day of preseason that midfielder Kristin Moen had worked all summer long to come into the season in the best shape and ready to compete, setting the bar high for everyone in the program. She fell into the possession style of play well and worked to be a player the team relied on to maintain the Gustie Tempo while continuing our forward momentum.  She ended her season with a  goal against Buena Vista, which was poised and effective, just like her play throughout the 2012 season.

Such character and class.

Oh we will surely miss your antics!

We will miss each and every one of our 2012 Seniors!!!

Gusties Fall on Senior Day

Macalester Takes Early 3-0 Lead and Never Looks Back

The Gusties took to the field Saturday ready to play and be giant killers.  Unfortunately, a few early opportunities for the Scots proved costly as MAC found the back of the net on all three breakdowns.  Despite the early 3-0 hole, the Gusties never stopped fighting, typical of their entire season.  They proved through this game, as they had in numerous games before, they were not going to sit back and take it.  Continually applying pressure and combining for dangerous opportunities throughout the remainder of the game.  The seniors, as well as the entire 2012 Women's Soccer team can be proud of what they have accomplished and what they have impacted to make a change for the future of Gustie Soccer.

Women’s Soccer Drops Season Finale 3-0 To Macalester On Senior Day
Posted on October 27th, 2012 by Tyler Grey

St. Peter, Minn. – Three Macalester first half goals proved too much to overcome for the Gustie women’s soccer team, as it dropped its season finale 3-0 to the Scots on Saturday at the Gustie Soccer Field.  Two goals by Georgia Cloepfil and another by Lydia Chodosh gave the Scots all they needed heading in to halftime with a three-goal lead.  With the loss, the Gusties finish the season 6-11-0 overall and 3-8-0 in the MIAC, while the Scots improve to 10-6-1 overall and 6-4-1 in the MIAC.

“We played fairly well,” remarked Laura Burnett-Kurie.  “There were times in the first half where we broke down and they were able to capitalize and put the ball in the back of the net.”

It took all of 1:28 for Macalester to get on the scoreboard when Lydia Chodosh took a rebound and found the back of the net to give the Scots a 1-0 lead in the early going.  Gustavus countered with offensive chances of their own, but could not capitalize before the MIAC’s leading scorer Georgia Cloepfil got in to the act.

At the 14:44 mark, Cloepfil took a strike from the top of the box and blew it past Gustavus goalkeeper Jessica Richert (Freeburg, Ill.) for her 14th goal of the season.  Cloepfil struck again at the 21:45 mark when she snuck behind the Gustie defense, took a pass from Margaret Nemetz beat Richert in the lower left corner of the goal for her second goal on the afternoon.  From there, the Scots would take the three-goal lead to the intermission, as neither team was able to find the back of the net for the remainder of the first half.

Senior Kristin Moen

The Gusties came out of the break with all hands on deck.  After allowing 15 Macalester shots in the first half, the defense stiffened in the second, and allowed 11 shots.  Senior goalkeeper Jessica Richert seemed to be everywhere after the intermission with a number of acrobatic saves.  The senior notched six saves in the half and brought her total to nine on the afternoon. 

Offensively, the Gustie women created a number of dangerous opportunities in the final frame.  In the 75th minute, a beautiful pass from Amanda Cartony (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) led Anna Basil (Fy., Maple Grove, Minn.) in to the box, but Basil’s touch missed just wide left.  Maggie Lane (Sr., Saginaw, Minn.) had a chance in the 89th minute on a cross from fellow senior Nikki Carlson (Plymouth, Minn.), but Lane’s drive was scooped up by Macalester goalkeeper Ellen Palmquist, and another Gustie chance was extinguished, which left the final score at 3-0 in favor of the Scots.

Senior Nikki Carlson

“Our record doesn’t indicate how much we improved this season,” mentioned Burnett-Kurie.  “We competed in every game and we were able to play our style of play against everyone we played, which is a testament to the leadership of these seniors.  They kept fighting through every game, and it was contagious to the underclassmen as well.”

Saturday marked the final match in a Gustie uniform for five seniors on this year’s team.  Maggie Lane, Nikki Carlson, Tam Meuwissen (Chanhassen, Minn.), Kristin Moen (St. Paul, Minn.), and Jessica Richert were recognized for their dedication and commitment to the Gustavus women’s soccer program over their career.

Senior Maggie Lane

“I will take so much from this soccer program,” stated senior Maggie Lane.  “Friendship, dedication, hard work, and how to have fun just to name a few.”

A scrappy forward, Lane scored two goals this season to go along with one assist for a total of five points.  She finishes her career with three goals and one assist for seven points.

A staple of the Gustavus defense throughout her tenure, Carlson has played in all but eight games wearing a Gustie uniform.  She has played in 61 matches in her four years anchoring the back line for the Black and Gold.

Senior Tam Meuwissen

After joining the team in 2011, Meuwissen has asserted herself as a dangerous threat offensively for the Golden Gusties.  She finished the season as the second leading scorer for the Gustie women with four goals and two assists for 10 points.  Meuwissen finishes her career with five goals and two assists for 12 points.

A consistent contributor in the midfield, Moen has played in all but nine games in her tenure donning the three crowns.  She has scored eight goals in her career, one of which came this season.  She has also amassed three assists for a total of 19 points in her four years.

Senior Jess Richert

A staple in net for the Gusties for 33 consecutive matches, Richert finishes her career with 282 saves, which ranks third on the all-time saves list at Gustavus.  Richert accumulated 138 saves this season, and eclipsed the 100-save mark each of the past two season.

“It has been everything you can imagine,” said Nikki Carlson.  “Being apart of a team is something that not everyone gets to do.  Playing soccer is something that I have always loved to do, and getting to do it for four more years has been a blessing.  I am going to miss it a lot.”

The Gustavus Athletic Department would like to thank each of the seniors for their contributions to the Gustavus women’s soccer program throughout their careers.

Box Score

Photo Gallery

Unfortunate 1-0 Loss to St. Catherine's

Gusties Go Down Fighting 

The Gusties turned it on and turned it up on Wednesday's dreary afternoon.  A miscleared ball that dribbled about 35 yards out of the Gusties end off a defensive corner was booted back in by St. Kate's, proving to be the deciding goal, as it slowly lofted toward the net and dropped behind keeper Jess Richert's outstretched hands.

Though the Gusties controlled most of the run of play throughout the game, especially in the 2nd half, the women's soccer team was unable to find the back of the net.  It was a difficult loss to take because they created several dangerous opportunities and fought hard to the end, seeming to get the game tied up with just shy of three minutes remaining only to have it called back for offsides.  The team never let down and never gave up, pressing six and seven forward to try and get the equalizer.  Stupendous play all around as the girls mounted their grittiest effort of the season.

Comeback Falls Short, Women’s Soccer Drops MIAC Match 1-0 To St. Catherine
Posted on October 24th, 2012 by Tyler Grey

St. Peter, Minn. – It was one of “those days” for the Gustavus women’s soccer team as it fell to St. Catherine by the score of 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon at the Gusties Soccer Field.  After giving up a goal at the 14:10 mark of the first half, the Gusties outplayed the Wildcats for the remainder of the afternoon, creating numerous dangerous opportunities, yet could not find the back of the net for the game-tying score.  With the loss, Gustavus falls to 6-10-0 overall and 3-7-0 in the MIAC, while St. Catherine improves to 9-7-0 overall and 4-6-0 in the MIAC.

“Today’s loss is a tough one to swallow, but we can't be upset about our effort, our drive, and our passion for the game.” said head coach Laura Burnett-Kurie.  “We were able to play some quality soccer, move the ball well, and work with each other consistently for the full 90 minutes.  Everyone stepped up and made a difference in the game.”

Jennifer Goetz gave St. Catherine the lift it needed in the 15th minute when she took a touch 30 yards out and sent a rainbow up-and-over the outstretched fingertips of Gustavus goalkeeper Jessica Richert (Sr., Freeburg, Ill.) into the upper right corner of the goal.  Goetz’s first goal of the season gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead heading in to halftime, as neither team was able to mount another dangerous opportunity for the remainder of the half.

Gustavus put the pressure on St. Catherine in the second half.  The Gusties used good ball movement and possession to create a number of dangerous opportunities.  The play of Amanda Cartony (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) and Maggie Lane (Sr., Saginaw, Minn.) sparked the Gustie offense to out-shoot the Wildcats 9-3 in the final 45 minutes.  The Black and Gold forced St. Catherine goalkeeper Danielle Mendez to make four of her seven saves after the intermission.

“I thought Amanda had an exceptional game, showing her personality, and dancing with the ball,” mentioned Burnett-Kurie of Cartony’s play.  “Although her creativity and risk-taking didn’t pay off with a goal, it changed the game and was a joy to watch.”

Gustavus appeared to have the equalizer at the 87:09 mark when Emily Papagapitos (Jr., Maplewood, Minn.) found the end of a cross and put the ball in the back of the net.  It was all for none as the junior was called offsides and the goal was taken away.  The Gusties could only muster one more shot as the final seconds ticked off the clock with the Wildcats holding on to the one-goal win.

“Ultimately, I thought we played with a lot of heart, guts, and grit,” Burnett-Kurie stated.  “We pushed ourselves, laid everything out on the line, and gave the game everything we had.  I am proud of this team and the will they showed to play in the moment, to fight, and to battle to the end.”

The Gusties will be back on the Gustie Soccer Field Saturday for the season finale when they host Macalester at 1:00 p.m. for Senior Day.

Box Score

Player of the Week October 15th-20th: Valerie Belanger

This week's Player of the Week goes to Val Belanger for her outstanding work ethic and drive in practices.  Val is continually hard working and driven to improve her game and the game of her teammates week after week.  She is continually positive and always re-enforcing her teammates throughout practices and games, providing a lift for the entire team.  Even in the Gusties tough loss to St. Thomas, her voice could still be heard across the field, encouraging her teammates to continue to fight and work together until the last whistle.  Her exceptional competitive spirit and constant cheering have been a backbone of support and consistency throughout the Gusties' 2012 season.  She is passionate and a positive presence for the entire Women's Soccer program!

Corner Kick Proves Costly for Gusties

Gusties Drop 1-0 Decision at St. Thomas

The Gusties struggled to find a consistent rhythm in Saturday's match versus the Tommies.  Our back line was pressed early by the Tommies, forcing numerous corners in the first half.  While defense was able to stifle most of the opportunities created, all it took was one defection in favor of the Tommies to put the ball in the back of the net.

There were a few opportunities for the Gusties to get on the scoreboard, especially late in the second half with both Brittany Chase and Tam Meuwissen going one on one with the keeper.  A free kick in the final two minutes gave the Gusties an added fight, but ultimately the Tommies keeper came up with some big saves and the Gusties could not capitalize.

The women look forward to their final two conference games beginning with St. Catherine's on Wednesday at home.

Women’s Soccer Falls 1-0 To St. Thomas
Posted on October 20th, 2012 by Tyler Grey

St. Paul, Minn. - The Gustavus Adolphus women’s soccer team fell at the hands of St. Thomas 1-0 on Saturday.  Tommie Kelsey Sargent scored in the 32nd minute on an assist from Steph McCartan, which proved to be the game-winner, as Gustavus could not mount a comeback in the second half.  With the loss, the Gusties fall to 6-9-0 on the year, and 3-6-0 in the MIAC.  St. Thomas improves to 6-9-1 overall, and 4-4-1 in the MIAC.

“Today was a battle,” stated head coach Laura Burnett-Kurie.  “We came out well from the first whistle and played for a full 90 minutes. We competed physically while creating several very dangerous opportunities that forced their goalkeeper to come up with some exceptional stops.”

The Tommies held the upper hand in shots for the duration of the match, finishing with a margin of +17 (22-5).  The Gustavus defense withstood 17 second half shots, including six on net.  St. Thomas also won the corner kick battle with a final count of 12-0.

Gustavus senior keeper Jessica Richert (Freeburg, Ill.) tallied eight saves on the afternoon to keep the Gusties’ hopes alive, but a number of dangerous opportunities came up short for the Gustie offense.  Richert is now just three saves from moving in to third place on the all-time saves list in Gustavus history.

“There are a lot of positives we can take from this game,” said Burnett-Kurie.  “One of those is playing until the final whistle, and even earning a free kick with less than two minutes left. Thats the beauty and the frustration with soccer – you can play well but not have the results to show for it.”

Gustavus will be back in action on Wednesday, October 24th when they host St. Catherine at 3:30 in St. Peter.

Box Score

Putting the Ball in the Net

Gusties Add Another to the Win Column with 2-1 Victory Over Buena Vista

Kristin Moen scored her first goal of the season against Buena Vista in the first half to help the Gusties over the Beavers at Wednesday afternoon's game.  It would eventually be Tam Meuwissen with the game winner in the second half, as the Gusties held on for the non-conference win.  

It was also the First Annual "Kicking for the Cause" game that the Women's Soccer program put on to raise money for Yuwa, a non-profit organization that provides a platform for young women to make a change in their lives through team sport.  With the support of Yuwa Fundraising Coordinator; Tim Deming, Gustavus Athletics, Gustavus Adolphus College and parents and fans, including the U12 Girls' St. Peter Youth Club Soccer Team, the fundraiser was able to raise over $500 in it's first year.  The Silent Auction down at Patrick's on 3rd and the Raffle for a signed Women's Practice Jersey were a HUGE success!  Thanks to all who participated and contributed!

Women’s Soccer Gets Back On Track With 2-1 Win Over Buena Vista
Posted on October 17th, 2012 by Tyler Grey

Senior Tam Meuwissen scored a goal and added an assist in the 2-1 win on Wednesday.

St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s soccer team got back on track with a 2-1 victory over Buena Vista on a blustery afternoon at the Gustie Soccer Field.  The Gusties took a 1-0 lead to halftime on a goal by Kristin Moen (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.), and added to their lead in the second half when Tam Meuwissen (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.) scored at the 66:25 mark.  Buena Vista would go on to score with just under 10 minutes to go, but it was too little too late for the Beavers as Gustavus held on to pick up their sixth win of the season.  The Gusties improve to 6-8-0 on the season, while the Beavers fall to 9-7-1.

In what was an all but identical first half, the Gusties got on the board first.  At the 19:21 mark, senior Kristin Moen played the ball down the right wing to fellow senior Tam Meuwissen, who took a touch and gave it right back to a streaking Moen.  Moen ripped a laser between two defenders and past Buena Vista goalkeeper Turissa Moreland for her first goal of the season, and put the Gusties on top 1-0.

“I didn’t even really look at the goal,” said Moen of her goal.  “I just went to the ball and the next thing I knew it was in the back of the net.  It was an awesome feeling.”

The final 45 minutes brought more of the same.  After shooting six times each in the first half, the two squads amounted four shots each in the second half, evening the shot total to 10 apiece for the match.  The Gusties pulled out to a 2-0 lead in the 67th minute when Meuwissen snuck behind the Beaver defense and beat Moreland one-on-one for her fourth goal of the season.  Meuwissen had another dangerous opportunity eight minutes later in the 75th minute when she took a strike from the left wing that glanced off of the far post to no avail.  Buena Vista got into the scoring act in the 81st minute.  Tori Carson took a pass from Kelsey O’Connor and found the back of the net to cut the lead to 2-1, but it was all the Beavers could muster for a comeback, as the Gusties came away with the victory.

“It was nice to win on our home field and put the ball in the back of the net.  We haven’t scored in a few games, so that’s always great to see,” stated head coach Laura Burnett-Kurie.  “We had some moments where we moved the ball really well and got off some good opportunities, especially in the
second half.”

Members of the Gustavus women’s soccer team and the St. Peter 12-and-under team together

Dubbed the first annual “Kicking For The Cause” match, Wednesday afternoon also served as a fundraising event for Yuwa, a nationally based non-profit organization reaching out to girls in rural India.  As a part of the event, there were donations given throughout the match, as well as a raffle and a special treat at halftime.  The 12-and-under St. Peter girls soccer team got to showcase their talents at the intermission in a 12-minute game, and were also honorary ball girls for the evening.  Following the match, there was a silent auction held at Patrick’s On Third.  In all, over $550 was raised to support Yuwa.

“Yuwa is an organization that uses team sport to empower young women in rural India.  Through soccer they are building leadership skills and confidence in young women in areas where soccer isn’t necessarily a big part of their lives,” remarked coach Burnett-Kurie of the Yuwa fundraiser.  “They came down this past spring and met with our team.  Our team jumped on board with it, and we went from there.  We knew we wanted to promote it somehow, and we think that it’s a great opportunity for us to have a sister soccer program in India.  This way, we were able to get their name out there in and around Minnesota.”

The Gustie women will be back in action again on Saturday when they travel to St. Paul, Minn. to take on the University of St. Thomas at 1:00 p.m.

Box Score

Kicking for the Cause: Yuwa Fundraising Event

We are happy to announce the Gustavus Adolphus Women's Soccer Program will be hosting its first annual "Kicking for the Cause"  game on Wednesday, October 17th in conjunction with the team's non-conference match-up against Buena Vista at 4:00pm on the Gustie Soccer Field.  The "Kicking for the Cause" game supports Yuwa, a non-profit organization that uses team sport to empower young women in rural India.  

Upon entry, fans will have the opportunity to make a "suggested entry donation," along with purchase raffle tickets for a signed practice jersey to be raffled off at the end of regulation.  The Gusties will also welcome the under-12 girls' team of the St. Peter Soccer Club, which is headed by Steve Carlson, as ball-girls and for an inter-squad scrimmage during halftime at the Gustie Soccer Field.  After the game, starting at 6:30pm, there will be a gathering down at Patrick's on S 3rd Street with a silent auction and specials.  All proceeds will benefit Yuwa. 

 "Yuwa brings girls out of isolation and into a positive team environment. Daily practice and a team platform give us access to large numbers of at-risk girls, and a girl with confidence can rewrite the script others have prepared for her." Yuwa is fighting to make a difference by breaking the negative cycle that has been created for the young women of India.  "When a girl organizes or joins a Yuwa team, through positive peer pressure she becomes a more regular student—players elect team captains, who keep track of school attendance, and many girls attend daily study sessions at Yuwa Club. She pays attention to her own health and to the health of her teammates, and gets access to information about her body through weekly adolescent health classes with her teammates. She marries when she chooses—on Yuwa's first team, not a single girl has gotten married below the age of 18, even though several of their older sisters had been married off at age 15. She will raise a healthy family. The cycle continues." -yuwa-india.org

Player of the Week October 8th-13th: Leah Brossoit

Leah Brossoit has be consistently improving her game all season, but she is awarded this week's "Player of the Week" for her two outstanding performances against UW Stout on Wednesday and Augsburg on Saturday.

Leah's direct kicks and corners against UW Stout were tremendous.  She has clearly been a threat off restarts all season long-already assisting on a corner in the St. Benedict's game-she continues to put the ball in dangerous spots for her teammates to potentially score.  She did just that against UW Stout to assist on Brittany Chase's goal that night, dropping the ball on the far side of the box behind the line from about 30 yards out.   Her shut down, patient defense has been a staple of her play, especially through the last few games.  She has stepped up her back-check of late, never giving up on any ball that may squeak past her.  She runs it down, gets in front and is a pest to any forward.  She is aggressive and great out of the air, which has made our entire defense stronger.  Not only is she solid behind the ball, but gets involved in the attack; looking to make runs down the flank and play balls into the box.  She showed that prowess a few times against Augsburg early, and they changed their style of play to combat her forward movement.  Congratulations Leah on a well deserved Player of the Week!  ...and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Another Tight Margin

Gustavus Falls to Augsburg in OT, 1-0

Homecoming Weekend on the Gustavus campus brought out fans, parents and alums, but the Gustie's dropped another tough one on the Gustie Soccer Field today.  Both teams had their helping of opportunities and chances on net, with the wet field creating a fair amount of scrambles.  Stellar goalkeeping from Jess Richert again held the Gustie's close, with Tam Meuwissen, Maggie Lane, Britany Chase and Amanda Cartony leading the attack.  Solid play from outside backs Estee Berg and Leah Brossoit proved crucial against speedy forwards, with cover provided by Nikki Carlson and Karlye Smith.  The midfield play of Heather Goff, Kristin Moen and Liz Underwood helped mount some powerful possession.  After battling through a scoreless 90 minutes, it took under three minutes in overtime for the wet weather to finally effect the Gusties when a slip in the box allowed the Auggie's to find the back of the net.

Women’s Soccer Suffers Overtime Heartbreaker 1-0 To Augsburg
Posted on October 13th, 2012 by Tyler Grey

St. Peter, Minn. – The 90 minutes of regulation were not enough to decide an outcome on the Gustie Soccer Field Saturday afternoon, as the Gusties dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker in overtime to Augsburg.  With 2:05 played in overtime, Gustavus keeper Jessica Richert (Sr., Freeburg, Ill.) made a spectacular save on a Molly Allen shot, but an Auggie bounce put the ball at the feet of Bri Clark, who buried the game winner and propelled Augsburg to the win.  The Gusties fall to 5-8-0 overall, and 3-5-0 in the MIAC.  The Auggies improve to 9-3-2 overall, and 4-2-2 in the MIAC.

“We played well,” stated head coach Laura Burnett-Kurie.  “We tried to move the ball on the ground, we tried to be creative, and it was nice to see.  One of our main focuses the last few days was to be more aggressive, be scrappier in the box to create our own scoring opportunities, and I thought we did that.  The girls are trying to use the things we have worked on in the game, and I am proud of them for that.”

The Gustie defense shined in the first half of Saturday’s match.  The Black and Gold survived numerous flurries of Augsburg chances, as the Auggies went on to outshoot the Gusties 12-to-5 in the first frame.  Seven of Augsburg’s 12 shots were saved by Jessica Richert.  The Gusties countered with chances of their own, including a breakaway opportunity for Tam Meuwissen (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn.), but a nice save by Augsburg goalkeeper Katie Gajewski denied the Gusties a goal and kept the scoreless tie heading in to halftime.

The second half brought much of the same, as Augsburg again outshot Gustavus, this time 9-to-4.  However, despite the array of shots, the Gustie defense denied every Auggie chance, including a flurry of shots in the 89th minute, and forced overtime.

The Auggies came out firing in the extra period, once again putting the pressure on the Gustie defense.  In the 93rd minute, Auggie Molly Allen took a drive from the right wing that resulted in a diving stop by Richert.  However, the deflection found the feet of Augsburg forward Bri Clark, who found the back of the net and gave the Auggies the 1-0 victory.

Gustavus keeper Jessica Richert was seemingly everywhere between the posts the entire afternoon, and racked up 13 saves to show for it.  It was the fourth straight match Richert has tallied double-digit saves, and the sixth time this season.  With the 13 saves, Richert surpasses the 100-save mark in a season for the second straight year.

“Jess has been holding on to the ball a lot better,” remarked Burnett-Kurie of Richert’s play.  “Especially on a wet day like to today, having those sure hands is a nice thing.  She is gaining confidence, and that confidence is playing off on to the rest of our team.  They are more willing to go forward because they know our back line and our goalkeeper are playing really well.”

The Gusties will be back in action on Wednesday, October 17th when they host Buena Vista University at 4:00 p.m. in St. Peter.




Box Score

Gusties Drop Tough Game at UW Stout

Black and Gold Lose 2-1

The Gusties fell in a non-conference match up on Wednesday night in Menomonie, WI.  The ladies in Black grabbed the lead before the end of the first half when Brittany Chase put in Leah Brossoit's direct kick.  The 1-0 lead was not enough for the Gusties however, and Stout put together a comeback in the second half scoring 2 unanswered goals.  Though the Gusties were able to link passes throughout the field, they could not resolve the Stout defense again.  Gustavus goes back to MIAC play on Saturday when they host Augsburg, kickoff 1:00 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Can’t Hold On To Early Lead, Falls To UW-Stout 2-1
Posted on October 10th, 2012 by Tyler Grey

First-year Brittany Chase scored the only goal for the Gusties.

Monomonie, Wis. – The Gustavus women’s soccer team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 38th minute of the first half, but were unable to fend off a UW-Stout second half comeback on Wednesday night.  The Blue Devils went on to score twice after the intermission to pull out the 2-1 victory.  With the loss, the Gusties fall to 5-7-0 overall, and remain 3-4-0 in the MIAC.  UW-Stout improves to 5-6-2 overall, and remains 2-2-1 in WIAC play.

The Gusties got off to a strong start when Brittany Chase (Fy., Victoria, Minn.) scored her third goal of the season on an assist from Leah Brossoit (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) in the 38th minute.  Gustavus was outshot six-to-three in the first half, but took a 1-0 lead to halftime nonetheless.

The second half belonged to UW-Stout.  In a period where the Blue Devils outshot the Gusties 10-to-two, UW-Stout scored twice to capture the victory.  Jenna Kizlik scored in the 60th minute to knot it up at 1-1.  UW-Stout got the game-winning goal 10 minutes later from Chelsea Schmidt, who scored her first goal of the season and lifted the Blue Devils to victory.

The Gusties were outshot 16-to-five in the match.  Chase and Brossoit were the only Gusties to register a point with a goal and an assist, respectively, while keeper Jessica Richert (Sr., Freeburg, Ill.) tallied 10 saves.

Gustavus will return to St. Peter to host Augsburg College on Saturday afternoon.  Kick off for that match is set for 1:00 p.m.

Box Score

Clinic Thrills Local Girls

Second Clinic with U12 Girls Another Success!!

Even though the wind forced the second clinic for the U12 Girls from St. Peter Soccer Club inside to the turf, both teams had a blast and definitely stayed a lot warmer!  The Gustavus women's soccer team ran the clinic again, beginning with an open field scrimmage among themselves, with the St. Peter girls picking their favorite Gustie and cheering on her team!  The girls worked on some foot skills, passing, shooting and goalkeeping again, culminating their clinic with a mixed scrimmage of Gusties and U12 girls.  It was another rewarding and exciting clinic for all involved!

Gustie Women: Kicking for the Cause!

More details to follow!

High Flying

Gustie Soccer Visits MSU Mankato High Ropes Course

Not so sure about the ascent, good thing
she's got her support team below!

A few weeks ago the Gusties unleashed their inner daredevils as they strapped on the harnesses and attempted to overcome some fears about 30 feet in the air.  Some highlights of the day included Jess pushing Coach off a life raft into shark infested waters, Maggie helping Tam (well, the entire team...) through her first obstacle by singing Dixie Chicks "Travelling Soldier" in a key we are all sure it has never been sung in before, Anna Street booking it through the course, to only confess in a shrill voice how terrified she really was and just wanted to get it over with, and Karlye actually hanging on to the bar after her jump for longer than anyone else!

Working hard on the belay teams

We've included some pictures for you to look at, but there are a BUNCH more, including some awesome videos on our Flickr page!  Go check it out!!

Perfect form from Amanda Cartony

Team shot post ropes course!

Gustie Soccer sings "Travelling Soldier"