CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team opened the 2022 season with a 2-1 victory over Waldorf University Sunday, August 28 at the UMN Crookston Soccer Field. The victory is the first in a season opener since a 1-0 victory September 1, 2016 over Minnesota State University Moorhead.

The Golden Eagles opened the season with a 1-0-0 mark, while Waldorf dropped to 0-3-1 on the season.

Controlling Play
Minnesota Crookston controlled play throughout the full 90 minutes Sunday although it took a late goal to secure the victory. UMN Crookston had 61 percent of the possession in the tilt. In addition, the Golden Eagles had 17 shots compared to just four for the Warriors. Minnesota Crookston had eight shots on goal, while Waldorf had three. The Golden Eagles generated seven corner kicks, while the Warriors did not get a corner Sunday.

Players of Note
Abby Fettinger (So., F, White Bear Lake, Minn.) picked up where she left off in 2021, as she scored the first tally of the season for UMN Crookston. Fettinger had two goals and two assists as a freshman. She scored in the 48^th minute to break the 0-0 tie. Sarah Burgum (Fr., F, Mandan, N.D.) and Morgan Laplante (Sr., F, De Soto, Kan.) accounted for assists.

The Warriors evened up the score 1-1 in the 64^th minute when Mikayla Smith scored off an assist from Iveth Guzman in a ball that got behind the Golden Eagle defense.

Alyssa Pavlacic (Sr., D, St. Charles, Mo.) scored the winning goal in the 85^th minute on a bouncing ball in the box played off a corner from Jenna Custer (R-Fr., MF, Queen Creek, Ariz.). Custer and Laplante picked up assists on the goal. The goal was the first as a Golden Eagle for Pavlacic.

Kathryn Brainerd (Sr., GK, Corcoran, Minn.) got the win in goal, picking up two saves, and allowing one goal.

Laplante and Ashley Chomyn (Sr., D, Winnipeg, Manitoba) led UMN Crookston with two shots on goal.

The loss in goal went to Maria Gonzalez, who allowed two goals in 90 minutes. She finished with six saves.

Freshmen Making An Impact
Minnesota Crookston had five true freshmen play in Sunday's game. Uda Kimba (Fr., MF, Rock Island, Ill.) and Julia Finch (Fr., D, Woodbury, Minn.) played all 90 minutes of Sunday's win. Burgum started and had her first career assist in 51 minutes, while Britney Le (Fr., MF, Lincoln, Neb.) and Tayettin Brodzinski (Fr., D, Yelm, Wash.) had impact minutes off the bench.

Up Next
Minnesota Crookston will look to build on the win as they trek to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Golden Eagles play Michigan Technological University Friday, September 2 at 6 p.m. C.T. in Houghton, Mich. They then wrap up the weekend Sunday, September 4 against Northern Michigan University at 11 a.m. C.T. in Marquette, Mich. The Wildcats are receiving votes in the national poll.