The 2013 Gustavus women's soccer team (team photo courtesy of Sport Pix Photography).
St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s soccer team is set to kick off its 2013 season on Friday afternoon when it plays host to UW-Eau Claire on the Gustie Soccer Field at 1:00 p.m. The Gusties will look for a fresh start in 2013 after compiling a record of 6-11-0 (3-8-0 MIAC) a year ago.
Picked to finish 11th in the MIAC Preseason Poll, the Gusties will search for more improvement in the 2013 season. The team returns six starters from last year in Estee Berg (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.), Leah Brossoit (Sr., Rochester, Minn.), Amanda Cartony (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.), Liz Underwood (Sr., Fergus Falls, Minn.), Heather Goff (Jr., Eagan, Minn.), and Karlye Smith (Jr., Eau Claire, Wis.), who will prove to be valuable veterans for a team that features nine first-year players on the roster.
Cartony will once again anchor the Gustavus offense. A back-to-back All-MIAC Honorable Mention performer in 2011 and 2012, the senior from Stillwater has led the team in goals and points scored each of the last two seasons. Berg, who earned a spot on the 2012 All-MIAC Honorable Mention Team with Cartony, and Brossoit will solidify the defense for the Black and Gold. The tandem ranked first and second, respectively, in minutes played among field players last season, giving second-year head coach Laura Burnett-Kurie confidence in her back line.
Also bringing game experience into the 2013 season are seniors Ana Gleason (Sr., North Easton, Mass.) and Emily Papagapitos (Sr., Maplewood, Minn.), along with Valerie Belanger (Jr., Zimmerman, Minn.), Anna Basil (So., Maple Grove, Minn.), and Brittany Chase (So., Victoria, Minn.).
In net, the Gusties will be charged with the task of replacing 2012 All-MIAC Honorable Mention goalkeeper Jessica Richert. A two-year starter between the posts, Richert ranks third on the career saves list at Gustavus (282) and fourth in career minutes logged in net (3,498:05). Junior Caroline Olson (York, Pa.) and first-year Roisen Granlund (St. Paul, Minn.) will battle for time at the goalkeeper position.
Live Action
Live stats will be available for Friday afternoon’s game via the Gustavus athletics website.