Article courtesy of Matt Higgins, MIAC Assistant Executive Director
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s soccer team got some incredibly clutch scoring from forward Maddison Ackiss (Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley) last week that helped the Gusties earn their first 2-0 start in conference play since 2002. The junior scored three goals total in wins over Macalester and St. Olaf, including both game-winners, to give her team a week to remember. For her performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Ackiss Tuesday with the MIAC Women’s Soccer Athlete-of-the-Week award.
A big week for Ackiss started Tuesday as she scored both goals to lead her team to a 2-0 win over Macalester to open MIAC play. Her goals came in the 19th and 68th minutes as the Gusties defeated the Scots for the first time since 1995. She followed that up with the game’s lone goal just 7:53 in to lift Gustavus to a 1-0 win over St. Olaf. This season, Ackiss is ranked second in the MIAC with five goals, fifth in points with 10 and her two game-winning goals are tied for the league lead.
Thanks to the two wins, the Gusties sit tied atop the MIAC standings with defending champion Augsburg at 2-0 (six points) after one week. The two wins also helped Gustavus improve to 2-3-1 overall this season. The Gusties will try to keep the momentum going this week with a pair of home games. UW-River Falls visits on Wednesday for a 4 p.m. nonconference game, and St. Thomas comes to St. Peter, Minn., Saturday for a key 3:30 p.m. MIAC showdown.