Minnesota Crookston vs. Finlandia
UMC Soccer Field, 11 a.m., Crookston, Minn.
Live Stats



CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team will officially open up the 2014 season Sat., Sept. 6 at the UMC Soccer Field against Finlandia University. The game will commence at 11 a.m.

The Golden Eagles are coming off a 3-11-4 (1-10-4 NSIC) mark on the 2013 season. Head Coach Joe Alianiello heads into his third season in Crookston and returns the majority of his roster with seven starters and 15 returnees back in the fold. UMC will be led by senior center back Rachelle Alcini (Sr., Ann Arbor, Mich.), a 2013 All-NSIC Third Team selection, who will anchor the back line for UMC. Alcini and the Golden Eagle defense held team's to 25 goals last season, a record for any Golden Eagle team, and will look to improve on that in 2014. Alongside Alcini, the Golden Eagles also return center back Delaney Kohorst (So., Cohasset, Minn.) and left back Samantha Deutsch (So., Lakeville, Minn.).

In the midfield, the Golden Eagles will be led by returning starters Erin Mears (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) at defensive midfielder. Returning starter Cayla Bendel (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.) looks to make an impact on the wing after playing right back last year. Delaney McIntyre (Jr., Flin Flon, Manitoba), who tallied one goal and two assists in 2013, also returns on the wing.

At forward, UMC will look to 2013's second-leading goal scorer for the team Kallie Gau (So., Monticello, Minn.). Gau had two goals in her first season in the Maroon and Gold. She will be joined by Courtney Armborst (Jr., West St. Paul, Minn.), who appeared in 11 games last season.

At goalkeeper, the Golden Eagles will rely on Lexie Gauger (So., Green Bay, Wis.), who turned in a strong campaign in 2013, her first season with UMC. Gauger set the shutout record with four last season, while posting a 1.31 goals against average, 87 saves and a .806 saves percentage.

UMC also has a talented freshman class for the 2014 season and will also look to this group for the year with Miranda Mosher (Fr., Watertown, Minn.), Beth Lastovich (Fr., White Bear Lake, Minn.), Ellie Brettschneider (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.), Maggie Gibbons (Fr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), Nicole Corbin (Fr., Ramsey, Minn.), Nikki Dogan (Fr., Grand Forks, N.D.) and Gabrielle Kekke (Fr., Argyle, Minn.), all joining the fray.

Finlandia is 2-0 on the season with wins over MacMurray College and Eureka College. The Lions posted a 4-8 mark during the 2013 campaign. Finlandia is led by Head Coach Nichole Tiggs, who is in her first season with the Lions. Finlandia has been led so far by Erica Sandoval, who has four goals and two assists on the year. Erin Elsner has chipped in three goals thus far. In net, Adrianna Osuna has earned both starters with no goals against, two shutouts and seven saves.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).