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.