University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Soccer
2001 Season Outlook
8/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
But what is past is past and the 2001 version of Gopher soccer is a hungry squad looking to return Minnesota to the practice of capturing Big Ten titles, national rankings and NCAA Tournament berths. As the 2001 season approaches, a new style of Gopher soccer team is about to be unleashed. Gopher teams have always been known to display a solid work ethic. The 2001 squad looks to supercede the expected. You will hear the coaches use words like tenacity, relentlessness and focus. It not a coaching principle that second-year head coach Barbara Wickstrand is stressing, it's a team attitude she is enforcing. "We will incorporate an attitude of tenacity and relentlessness, both offensively and defensively," said Wickstrand. "The skill level is up from a year ago. Every player will vie for playing time and some new people will contend for starting positions. There isn't a weak link on the team. "The key to obtaining a good record is for us to win the matches we are supposed to win, play consistent soccer the way we know how to play and hopefully create some good opportunities to beat some nationally ranked opponents," adds Wickstrand. In striving to notch more W's than L's on the season tally, the Gophers must find a way, simply put, to score more goals in 2001. Minnesota scored just 20 times in 2000, and only 40 percent of that scoring punch returns this season. "Last year, we had so many new people on the field," explains Wickstrand. "There were times when we had seven first or second-year players at forward and midfield. "We built off the experience gained last season and used spring practices to run a lot more offensive patterns. Toward the end of the spring, our offense was much improved."
"Our captains have great leadership qualities," said Wickstrand of Rackley and Meyers. "Sammy is the vocal leader, whose enthusiasm is a natural trait. Alison leads by example. She's a great student-athlete and she directs the field from her midfielder position." Rackley's influence on the team is much larger than her statistics would suggest. Despite scoring a career-low one goal in 2000, she was rewarded with NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team and All-Big Ten First Team honors. Look for her offensive output to improve this season. "The player teams will focus on stopping will be Alison Rackley," said Wickstrand. "Alison has such a presence on the field and is so strong. As long as she continues to play as she has throughout her career, she'll be fine. We focused on her shooting technique during the off-season and she definitely improved on finishing on net. I'm excited about her senior year." Six matches into last season, Meyers was forced to move from her midfield position, that she had played for over two seasons, to sweeper. The move garnered wonderful results. Meyers excelled in her new position and earned second team All-Big Ten honors. "Sammy becoming a sweeper was a blessing; she is such a natural back there," said Wickstrand. "She has the vision to be a great sweeper and such heart and desire to be the best and not get beat." Meyers will be the anchor of the foundation of the Gopher team, a solid, deep and experienced defense. The Gophers could feature a starting backfield lineup comprised entirely of seniors if Sarah FitzGerald, Allyson Brodie and Julie Eibensteiner get the starting nod. FitzGerald is the Gophers' best one-on-one defender and has started 41 straight matches. Brodie is a steady veteran of 55 matches in her career. Eibensteiner, a fifth-year senior, is expected to retain her starting spot at goalkeeper and is coming off a season in which she collected triple digits in saves.
Junior transfer Ginny Jorde and sophomore Katherine Arndt provide the Gopher backfield with talented depth and competition for playing time. Jorde was a junior college All-American a year ago, and is expected to make an immediate impact. Arndt stepped in last year and played well and further developed her skills in spring practices. Keepers Tricia Czerniak and Kelly Kraft will make the competition at goalkeeper fierce as well. Czerniak, a junior, transferred to Minnesota after playing two seasons at Butler, while Kraft redshirted last season to rehabilitate a knee injury from her senior year in high school. Joining Rackley in the midfield are veterans Meghan Jones, Amy Khaleel and Noelle Langston. Jones tied with Rackley for team honors in assists, despite playing at the defender position, and makes the move to midfield this season. Khaleel was one of the bright spots from last season and has gotten stronger and more confident this spring. Langston also used the spring season to drastically improve her game and could see time at defender as well. A number of rookies, Jennifer Cressman, Mary Kasper, Tierney Palmer-Klein and Megan Turner and sophomore transfer Anna Nudell Lee, all of them Minnesota natives, will fill out the midfielder ranks and compete for playing time.
Junior Keely Dinse, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship this season, is the most experienced forward on the Gopher roster. Sophomore Rachael Roth started 18 of 19 matches in her rookie season and is prepared to make a bigger contribution this fall. Junior Jordan Bieler will move up to forward from the midfield to give the Gophers extra punch. Senior Hailee Walsh also brings experience to the Gopher forwards. Canadian National Team member Leah Kutcher fits into the plans Wickstrand has for a more potent attack coming from her forwards. Another rookie, Christine Bryne is a very athletic player who could play anywhere on the field. The Gophers will once again play a competitive schedule and one which looks similar to the 2000 season. Minnesota will open the season on Aug. 31 at Xavier and its home schedule on Sept. 14 versus Iowa State. The Gophers begin their Big Ten slate on Sept. 21 at Ohio State. Purdue will play host to the 2001 Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 2-4. |
But what is past is past and the 2001 version of Gopher soccer is a hungry squad looking to return Minnesota to the practice of capturing Big Ten titles, national rankings and NCAA Tournament berths. As the 2001 season approaches, a new style of Gopher soccer team is about to be unleashed. Gopher teams have always been known to display a solid work ethic. The 2001 squad looks to supercede the expected. You will hear the coaches use words like tenacity, relentlessness and focus. It not a coaching principle that second-year head coach Barbara Wickstrand is stressing, it's a team attitude she is enforcing. "We will incorporate an attitude of tenacity and relentlessness, both offensively and defensively," said Wickstrand. "The skill level is up from a year ago. Every player will vie for playing time and some new people will contend for starting positions. There isn't a weak link on the team. "The key to obtaining a good record is for us to win the matches we are supposed to win, play consistent soccer the way we know how to play and hopefully create some good opportunities to beat some nationally ranked opponents," adds Wickstrand. In striving to notch more W's than L's on the season tally, the Gophers must find a way, simply put, to score more goals in 2001. Minnesota scored just 20 times in 2000, and only 40 percent of that scoring punch returns this season. "Last year, we had so many new people on the field," explains Wickstrand. "There were times when we had seven first or second-year players at forward and midfield. "We built off the experience gained last season and used spring practices to run a lot more offensive patterns. Toward the end of the spring, our offense was much improved."
"Our captains have great leadership qualities," said Wickstrand of Rackley and Meyers. "Sammy is the vocal leader, whose enthusiasm is a natural trait. Alison leads by example. She's a great student-athlete and she directs the field from her midfielder position." Rackley's influence on the team is much larger than her statistics would suggest. Despite scoring a career-low one goal in 2000, she was rewarded with NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team and All-Big Ten First Team honors. Look for her offensive output to improve this season. "The player teams will focus on stopping will be Alison Rackley," said Wickstrand. "Alison has such a presence on the field and is so strong. As long as she continues to play as she has throughout her career, she'll be fine. We focused on her shooting technique during the off-season and she definitely improved on finishing on net. I'm excited about her senior year." Six matches into last season, Meyers was forced to move from her midfield position, that she had played for over two seasons, to sweeper. The move garnered wonderful results. Meyers excelled in her new position and earned second team All-Big Ten honors. "Sammy becoming a sweeper was a blessing; she is such a natural back there," said Wickstrand. "She has the vision to be a great sweeper and such heart and desire to be the best and not get beat." Meyers will be the anchor of the foundation of the Gopher team, a solid, deep and experienced defense. The Gophers could feature a starting backfield lineup comprised entirely of seniors if Sarah FitzGerald, Allyson Brodie and Julie Eibensteiner get the starting nod. FitzGerald is the Gophers' best one-on-one defender and has started 41 straight matches. Brodie is a steady veteran of 55 matches in her career. Eibensteiner, a fifth-year senior, is expected to retain her starting spot at goalkeeper and is coming off a season in which she collected triple digits in saves.
Junior transfer Ginny Jorde and sophomore Katherine Arndt provide the Gopher backfield with talented depth and competition for playing time. Jorde was a junior college All-American a year ago, and is expected to make an immediate impact. Arndt stepped in last year and played well and further developed her skills in spring practices. Keepers Tricia Czerniak and Kelly Kraft will make the competition at goalkeeper fierce as well. Czerniak, a junior, transferred to Minnesota after playing two seasons at Butler, while Kraft redshirted last season to rehabilitate a knee injury from her senior year in high school. Joining Rackley in the midfield are veterans Meghan Jones, Amy Khaleel and Noelle Langston. Jones tied with Rackley for team honors in assists, despite playing at the defender position, and makes the move to midfield this season. Khaleel was one of the bright spots from last season and has gotten stronger and more confident this spring. Langston also used the spring season to drastically improve her game and could see time at defender as well. A number of rookies, Jennifer Cressman, Mary Kasper, Tierney Palmer-Klein and Megan Turner and sophomore transfer Anna Nudell Lee, all of them Minnesota natives, will fill out the midfielder ranks and compete for playing time.
Junior Keely Dinse, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship this season, is the most experienced forward on the Gopher roster. Sophomore Rachael Roth started 18 of 19 matches in her rookie season and is prepared to make a bigger contribution this fall. Junior Jordan Bieler will move up to forward from the midfield to give the Gophers extra punch. Senior Hailee Walsh also brings experience to the Gopher forwards. Canadian National Team member Leah Kutcher fits into the plans Wickstrand has for a more potent attack coming from her forwards. Another rookie, Christine Bryne is a very athletic player who could play anywhere on the field. The Gophers will once again play a competitive schedule and one which looks similar to the 2000 season. Minnesota will open the season on Aug. 31 at Xavier and its home schedule on Sept. 14 versus Iowa State. The Gophers begin their Big Ten slate on Sept. 21 at Ohio State. Purdue will play host to the 2001 Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 2-4. |
