Women's Soccer | 10/2/2024 1:52:00 PM

•  MINNESOTA CROOKSTON. Minnesota Crookston is coming off a big win last week at Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles are looking to build off the momentum, as they enter the week with a 1-5-1 (1-2 NSIC) mark. Minnesota Crookston comes in tied for 11th in the NSIC standings heading into Friday and Saturday's games. The Golden Eagles have three more very important games in a row, as they play three-consecutive tilts against teams ranked 11-15 in the conference standings. Minnesota Crookston is averaging 0.29 goals per game, while allowing 1.43 to their foes. The Golden Eagles are taking 6.4 shots per tilt, while allowing 18.1 shots per game. 

•  NO. SLEEP. TIL' BROOKLYN. Brooklyn Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul, Minn.) has a knack for finding the back of the net for the Golden Eagles. Fischbach has accounted for 4-of-5 goals the team has scored in the last 1.5 years. Fischbach scored a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes, including the game winner with under a minute remaining against Sioux Falls. The converted goalkeeper comes in with two goals and no assists. She has five shots, three on goal this season. 

•  TESSA ON THE ASSIST. Tessa VanOverbeke (So., F, Hartford, S.D.) picked up a key assist for the Golden Eagles on the game-winning goal last Thursday against Sioux Falls. VanOverbeke has no goals, and one assist in 2024. VanOverbeke is a versatile player who can play all around the pitch, and who has made a major impact in her two years for the Golden Eagles.

• DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE. Minnesota Crookston's defense has been strong this season. They have been limiting good looks for their foes this season. Minnesota Crookston is allowing just 1.43 goals per game in 2024. This is a significant drop from 2023, as the Golden Eagles allowed 3.72 goals per game. The games of Kali Yates, Madison Lein, Abby
 Fettinger, Tessa VanOverbeke, and Anna Kuecker have been crucial in the back of the line for the Golden Eagles. It will continue to be paramount to limit opposing offenses moving forward through the season.
 
• IN GOAL. The tandem of Jordan Metz (Fr., GK, Lino Lakes, Minn.), and Emma Stempien (Sr., GK, Plymouth, Mich.)O has performed well for the Golden Eagles. Metz has an NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week honor to show for it. Metz has started five games, and has a 1.47 goals against average with 41 saves. Stempien comes into the weekend with a 1.30 goals against average in two starts. Stempien has nine saves. The play of Minnesota Crookston's goalkeepers will continue to be vital throughout the season.

• NEWCOMERS. The Golden Eagles have 10 new faces to the roster in 2024. Minnesota Crookston has had seven newcomers start games this season. Tyler Chernecki (Fr., F, Winnipeg, Manitoba) has started seven games, while Kali Yates (So., D, Hedgesville, W.V.) has started six. Jordan Metz (Fr., GK, Lino Lakes, Minn.) has five starts in goal. Andrea Cuenca Medina (Fr., MF, Saint Paul, Minn.) comes in with four starts in 2024. Sydney Christopherson (Fr., MF/F, Sioux Falls, S.D.), and Anna Kuecker (Fr., D/MF, Marshall, Minn.) each have three, while Callie Holthaus (Fr., F, Richmond, Minn.), and Elise Lefers (Fr., MF, Brookings, S.D.) have one start. The freshmen have all made impacts this season. Chernecki is the team's leading shooter with 11 this season, while Yates had played the second-most minutes of anyone with 607.

• FROM THE BASKETBALL COURT. Emma Dudycha has made the transition from basketball to soccer after two seasons. Dudycha played soccer in high school at Austin H.S., alongside her twin sister Hope Dudycha. The twins are part of five sets of twins that both compete in sports at Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles have four more instances where one twin competes at Minnesota Crookston, while the other attends school elsewhere. Sarah Burgum is an instance of this, as her twin brother Lucas plays baseball at UMary. 

• WINNING AT HOME. Minnesota Crookston is searching for their first victory at home since October 7, 2022 when they defeated Upper Iowa University 2-1. The Golden Eagles last defeated Southwest Minnesota State at home October 23, 2016,  and have not defeated Winona State University. Minnesota Crookston will look for the home field advantage this weekend. 

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE. The Mustangs have started out struggling this year. With a record of 0-6-1, this team is motivated to get their first win of the season. U of M Crookston has struggled against SMSU in the past having a 2-23-1 record through all of our fixtures. The last time the Golden Eagles won against SMSU was in 2016. Last season SMSU had a record of 6-10-1, beating the Golden Eagles 2-0 in league play. SMSU is a fairly young team with only a few seniors in their squad this year. This team is returning almost all of their most productive starters from last season.

OFFENSE. The Mustang offense has experience working together. Most of their most productive players are returning to the offense excluding Alyson Gallagher who has two goals and three assists last season. This season SMSU has only scored two goals through seven games, with one goal for each striker, both were not assisted. 

DEFENSE. The Mustangs are allowing 2.29 goals per game this season. They come in allowing 16.4 shots per game to their foes. They have put together back-to-back strong performances defensively, earning a 0-0 tie with UMary and a 1-0 loss to Minot State University. The most goals they have let in this season was four versus Wayne State. The defense on both sides of the pitch will be crucial in Friday's match in Crookston.

GOALKEEPING. Rachel Hicks leads the way for the Mustangs, starting five games in net. Hicks comes in with a 2.00 goals against average, and 40 saves. Stella Litzen has started two games, she is allowing three goals per game, and has seven games in 2024.

WINONA STATE. The Warriors come in with a 2-3-1 mark in 2024, after going 3-7-7. They are in their first season under Head Coach Delaney Marier. Winona State picked up a 2-1 win last Sunday over Northern State, and fell narrowly 1-0 to Minnesota State University Moorhead. The Warriors lead the all-time seried with Minnesota Crookston 10-0-2. They picked up a 4-0 win over the Golden Eagles in 2023.

OFFENSE. The Warriors are guided by Abigail Williams, who leads the way with two goals. Williams is a senior in midfield and will be a key player to watch. Freshman Jacey Sturek comes in with three assists and has earned starts in four games. Winona State is averaging 0.83 goals per game, while attempting 8.3 shots per game. Madelynn Drasher, Catheryn Hudak, and Kyleigh Jannisch have all accounted for goals this season.

DEFENSE. Winona State has four returning players leading the defense, with Callie Menzel leading the way after starting all 17 games. Julia Kunz, Annika Groendel, and Adrianna Bixby all started games in 2023. The Warriors are allowing 1.87 goals per game off 8.2 shots per tilt for their foes. 

GOALKEEPING. Alyson Jumper has started all six games in net for the Warriors. She comes in with one shutout, and is allowing 1.37 goals against. She has posted a .680 saves percentage, and 17 saves. Sadie Wendt has come off the bench in one game, and has a 11.38 goals against average, with two goals allowed.

GAMEDAY

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Friday, October 3
TIME: 3 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
FIELD: Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH

WINONA STATE AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Sunday, October 5
TIME: 1 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
FIELD: Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field
LIVE STATS: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 1 Emma Stempien (Plymouth, Mich.) 2 starts, 1.30 GAA, 9 saves
So. D 27 Kali Yates (Hedgesville, W.V.) 7 starts
So. D 17 Madison Lein (Bismarck, N.D.) 7 starts
Sr. D 15 Abby Fettinger (White Bear Lake, Minn.) 2 starts, 2 shots
Sr. MF 18 Greta Saylor (New Brighton, Minn.)  6 starts, 3 shots
Jr. MF 3 Julia Finch (Woodbury, Minn.) 7 starts, 2 shots
So. MF 11 Emmah Burnes (Tulare, Calif.) 7 starts, 7 shots
Fr. MF 7 Sydney Christopherson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) 4 starts, 3 shots
Fr. F 2 Tyler Chernecki (Winnipeg, Manitoba) 7 starts, 11 shots
Sr. F 13 Brooklyn Fischbach (South St. Paul, Minn.) 4 starts, 2 goals
So. F 9 Tessa VanOverbeke (Hartford, S.D.) 7 starts, 1 assist

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 1 Rachel Hicks (Rexburg, Idaho) 5 starts, 2.00 GAA, 40 saves
So. D 6 Illjana Arbaugh (Indio, Calif.) 4 starts
Fr. D 25 Jayna Benson (St. Cloud, Minn.) 4 starts
Jr. MF 12 Hannah Walburg (Watertown, S.D.) 5 starts
Jr. MF 17 Brooke Wetterstrom (Olathe, Kan.) 5 starts, 2 shots
So. MF 22 Trinity Reagan (Rapid City, S.D.) 6 starts
Jr. F 2 Haley Mason (Chippewa Falls, Wis.) 7 starts, 1 goal, 0 assists
Sr. F 7 Dare Kroeten (St. Louis Park, Minn.) 6 starts, 4 shots
So. F 13 Reese Leighton (Queen Creek, Ariz.) 2 starts
Fr. F 18 Jada Backes (Rapid City, S.D.) 6 starts, 2 shots
Sr. F 8 Selena Prolic (Milwaukee, Wis.) 7 starts, 1 goal, 0 assists

WINONA STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 00 Alyson Jumper (Ankeny, Iowa) 6 starts, 1.37 GAA, 17 saves
Jr. D 11 Julia Kunz (Cedarburg, Wis.) 3 starts
Sr. D 17 Callie Menzel (Iowa City, Iowa) 6 starts
So. D 27 Adrianna Bixby (Saint Peter, Minn.) 5 starts, 0 goals, 1 assist
So. D 12 Annika Groendel (New Berlin, Wis.) 2 starts, 1 shot
Sr. MF 4 Abigail Williams (Savage, Minn.) 6 starts, 2 goals, 0 assists
Fr. MF 8 Kyleigh Jannisch (Aurora, Ill.) 6 starts, 1 goal, 0 assists
Fr. MF 29 Faith Quinn (Winona, Minn.) 1 start, 0 goals, 1 assist
Jr. F 7 Johanna Shubert (Batavia, Ill.) 6 starts, 3 shots
Jr. F 14 Sarah Strating (Lino Lakes, Minn.) 6 starts, 8 shots
Jr. F 20 Grace Seim (Waconia, Minn.) 1 start

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can the Golden Eagles pick up some big results at home?

- Can Minnesota Crookston continue to generate offense after getting two goals against Sioux Falls last week?

- Will the Golden Eagle defense continue to be strong, and limit opposing chances?

- Who will step up in the big moments for Minnesota Crookston?

- What young players will shine for the Golden Eagles?