2013 Women's Soccer Banquet
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| Looking like ladies all dressed up! |
The 2013 Gustavus Women's Soccer team met at Charley's Restaurant on Sunday afternoon December 15th to sum up the season, hand out awards and eat some delicious food. A celebration of the fantastic season, the girls, parents and coaches all thoroughly enjoyed themselves!
2013 Award Winners:
Teach Me How To Gustie
While this award is given to the player who represents and embodies everything that it means to be a Gustavus Women’s Soccer player: tenacious, positive, hard working, high spirited, supportive and team before self, it is ever so fitting that this award was named “Teach Me How to Gustie” last year, because you have not only taught this team “how to Gustie” over the last four years, but also probably “how to Dougie”.
You are the voice on the field, the positive words of encouragement to your teammates, the leader they all look to when things aren’t going quite right. On top of all these pieces of your character that make you so valuable to this team, you also happen to be a darn good soccer player! A technically strong, smart midfielder, you were a contributor in so many ways. This coaching staff and your team recognize all you have done for the Gustavus Women’s Soccer program and your potential going forward. Thank you Liz Underwood for teaching us all “How to Doug-I mean Gustie”.
Most Improved
You came in intense and ready to go, though a few injuries early on held you back on a few occasions. Once you pushed through and got healthy, we all soon learned your ceiling was limitless. You adapted, pushed yourself, and attacked each drill and task with an intensity and focus that matches your athleticism. Fearless and tenacious, a bloody nose at one practice-just the only one Mitch wasn’t at-held you out for a few minutes, but your level never dropped when you jumped back into the drill.
You respond well with your actions to fix whatever technical piece the coaching staff corrects and you have shown through hard work your continued growth and improvement. You fought hard and earned a starting spot in the goal for the final six games of the season, a tremendous accomplishment. For all these reasons, the team has voted you Roisen Granlund, Most Improved.
Coaches’ Award
A hardworking defender, who battled through her share of bumps and bruises this season. She quietly put in 110% effort at every practice, every game, even if she had been up since 4AM for her nursing rotation. She is supportive and a leader by example. If she was working that hard, it left her teammates no excuse but to match her effort and often attempt to surpass it.
In a game where nothing seemed to be going right and there appeared to be a lack of heart on the field from most, despite a position switch and an onslaught of offense from the opposition, she continued to fight, wore her heart on her sleeve and battled until the final whistle blew. She didn’t let the score, her opponents, an injury or her physical fatigue effect her, she fought on. That was the staple performance from Ana Gleason this season. Despite whatever else was going on, you could count on her to be there and give it all, whatever the team needed, whatever was best for the team, that’s what Ana was going to do.
For all these reasons, and many more, that’s why the coaching staff has awarded Ana Gleason with the 2013 Coaches’ Award.
Defensive MVP
A stalwart in the backline, starting every game that she ever played in as a Gustie, it is not hard to believe why her team chose her at the Defensive MVP, again. Her speed and patience are deceiving, but you make no mistake to let your opponents know they will have to work to get by you… and often won’t succeed at the task. If they happen to succeed, fear not Gustie teammates, she will reappear in front of her mark once again or effectively drop into position to cover in the backline and help thwart the next offensive attack.
Coach may joke that you get a nosebleed when you get into the attacking third, or that your best skill is dribbling out of bounds, but the truth is you are such a well-rounded soccer player and person in general, those little things remind us all that you’re human.
Congratulations to the reigning Defensive MVP, Estee Berg on her second consecutive victory!
Offensive Player of the Year
When you get right to the heart of it, 8 goals and 3 assists is not a bad way to start out your college career. Nineteen points? Not bad at all. She’s cheeky and wily on the ball and there’s not a defender in the MIAC who can beat her in a foot race, she kicks it into a whole other gear. She’ll rocket a left footed shot, then open her hips and place the next ball calmly in the back of the net. Her lethal goal scoring abilities come in the range she uses to beat the defense and the goalkeepers.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s her hips do lie. She’ll make the defender bite and then play a pass to a streaking teammate or beat the defender herself 1v1. With her addition this season she helped the team jump 155 spots in the Bennett ranking, for all these reasons and so many more, it’s not surprising that her teammates named, Maddi Ackiss, the 2013 Offensive Player of the Year.
Top Newcomer
A versatile player, who rotated through numerous positions this season, she always went where the team needed her. She has a rocket shot and ice in her veins when she defends. She’s fearless out of the air and tenacious in every tackle in the back line. She was an asset to the team no matter where she was on the field, but walk into our office during the season and you might hear a spirited debate between the coaching staff about whether she was playing midfield or defense that day. However it didn’t matter to her, what ever was best for the team.
She took her corners and shots, with her left, then her right, and maybe her left again. Her skills and poise on the field only compliment her goofy yet fierce personality. She brought life to the team on and off the field, which is what made you so invaluable this season. Congratulations Coursey Edwards for being voted Top Newcomer for 2013!
MVP
She has always been an impressive player for the Gusties, but she wrote herself in the record books this season. She finishes her Gustie career tied for 8th on the all-time scoring list with 26 goals, 9th in career points with 62 and tied with the Offensive Player of the Year for points this season with 19. But that’s just the numbers. The games tell the real story, she’s unselfish and cunning on the ball. She will set up any teammate before she takes a shot herself, (but still manages to land in the record books) but when she does, she makes sure to put it in the back of the net. She’s all over the field, most of the time in a good way, as she went “rouge” far less this season. She’s the catalyst for the attack and always wants the ball, as any dominant player does. Her competitive spirit and drive are matched by none… she doesn’t like to lose… give her a competition to win and it’s game over, hands down, no longer friends she’s out to win and it makes her teammates better. How many points did she score in Rooball? Oh the number isn’t important, just know it was over 100 more points than anyone else.
She’s a competitor and crafty, and there are a hundred more adjectives we could use to describe her… but most fitting is the title, Most Valuable Player 2013, Amanda Cartony.
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| Seniors with the coaches. |
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| A couple proud Senior Rooball winners and their prizes! |
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| Offense enjoying their spoils of Da Boss's Cup. |
