Women's Soccer | 10/31/2024 7:51:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON soccer team enters their final home weekend of the season with a 1-12-2 (1-9-1 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles are looking to snap a five-game losing streak. Minnesota Crookston has already posted their best season since 2022, but they are aiming to end the 2024 season on a strong note. The Golden Eagles have a win over Sioux Falls, and a pair of ties with MSU Moorhead, and Black Hills State. Minnesota Crookston comes in averaging 0.27 goals per game, while allowing 2.00 goals per tilt. The Golden Eagles are tallying 7.8 shots per game, and allowing 17.8 shots per tilt. Minnesota Crookston has three games remaining in the 2024 season.

• GOING "FISCH"ING. Brooklyn Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul, Minn.) has been the goal scorer for the Golden Eagles the last two seasons. The converted goalkeeper has a knack for finding the back of the net. Fischbach is tied for the team lead this season with two goals, along with Sarah Burgum. Fischbach comes into Friday with 13 shots, and seven shots on goal. She has started 12-of-15 games at forward for Minnesota Crookston as a senior. 

• HEY SARAH. Sarah Burgum (Jr., F, Mandan, N.D.) picked up two goals in a tie with MSU Moorhead earlier this season. Burgum is tied with Brooklyn Fischbach with the team lead in goals. She has been a strong player at the top of the formation for Minnesota Crookston. Burgum leads the team with 16 shots, eight have nine on goal in 2024. She will be a vital player the rest of the way for Minnesota Crookston. 

• NEWCOMERS. The Golden Eagles have relied a good bit on new faces to the team in 2024. Nine newcomers have started games this season. Tyler Chernecki (Fr., F, Winnipeg, Manitoba) has started eight games, with 15 shots for the Golden Eagles. Sydney Christopherson (Fr., MF/F, Sioux Falls, S.D.) comes in with five starts, and six shots. Andrea Cuenca Medina (Fr., MF, St. Paul, Minn.) has four starts, and three shots. Callie Holthaus (Fr., F, Richmond, Minn.) has started four games, with eight shots for the Golden Eagles. Anna Kuecker (Fr., D/MF, Marshall, Minn.) has eight starts, and one shot. Elise Lefers (Fr., MF/F, Brookings, S.D.) comes in with two starts. Riley Martin (Fr., D/MF, San Dimas, Calif.) has two starts. Jordan Metz (Fr., GK, Lino Lakes, Minn.) has started 12 games in goal this season. Kali Yates (So., D, Hedgesville, W.V.) has been a key presence at center back with 14 starts for Minnesota Crookston.

• METZ. Jordan Metz has guided the Golden Eagles this season in net. Metz earned NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week 
honors earlier this season, becoming the first Golden Eagle since Lexie Gauger in 2014 to earn the accolade. Metz has 12 starts this season. She has made several crucial saves for Minnesota Crookston. She enters the weekend with a 1.87 goals against 
average, 94 saves, and a .803 saves percentage. 

• SENIORS. Friday and Sunday will be the last two home matches for Minnesota Crookston's seven seniors. Emma 
Stempien (GK, Plymouth, Mich.) has a 17 starts in her career, with a 128 saves, and a .703 saves percentage. Brooklyn Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul, Minn.) comes into the weekend with four goals, and an assit in 53 starts in her career. Jacqueline Calderon (R-Sr., MF, Indio, Calif.) has been a five-year staple in the program. She has 29 starts, and two assists for the Golden Eagles. Abby Fettinger (Sr., D, White Bear Lake, Minn.) has made 42 starts in her career, with four goals, and two assists. Lanie Padelford (Sr., MF, Mahtomedi, Minn.) comes in with 37 starts, one goal, and two assists. Greta Saylor (Sr., MF, New Brighton, Minn.) has made 30 starts in the center of the park for the Golden Eagles. Jada VanOverbeke (Sr., D, Hartford, S.D.) has been a staple at center back throughout her career, starting 53 games. 

• SOPHOMORE CLASS. In addition to the newcomers, the Golden Eagles have several second-year players who have played major roles for the Golden Eagles. Tessa VanOverbeke (So., D/F, Hartford, S.D.) is a versatile player who has been at outside back and on the wing. VanOverbeke has the team's lone assist. Emmah Burnes (So., MF, Tulare, Calif.) helps the Golden Eagles manage the midfield, and has been a staple there for the Golden Eagles. Madison Lein (So., D, Bismarck, N.D.) has been steady in the defense for the Golden Eagles, starting all nine games. Kedin Geremiah (So., F, Winnipeg, Manitoba) has been important off the bench, playing in 11 games for Minnesota Crookston.

• DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE. Minnesota Crookston's defense has been the main area they have improved in this season. The Golden Eagles have relied on solid play from their back line of Yates, Lein, and Tessa VanOverbeke, along with strong goaltending from Metz. Abby Fettinger, Emmah Burnes, Riley Martin, and Anna Kuecker have also stepped into the back line in spots. Minnesota Crookston is limiting teams to 2.00 goals per game, and 17.8 shots per tilt. This is a vast improvement from 2023, when they allowed 3.72 goals per game, and 26.5 shots per tilt. 

• AT HOME. Minnesota Crookston wraps up at home this weekend against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State. The Golden Eagles are seeking their first positive result at home since a 1-1 tie with Sioux Falls October 14, 2022. The last win came October 7 with a 2-1 victory over Upper Iowa University. 

#Tidbits

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL. The Golden Bears enter the weekend with a 9-3-3 (7-3-1 NSIC) mark. They are currently fourth in the NSIC standings. Concordia-St. Paul has a plus-17 goal differential with 26 goals scored to just nine for their foes. The Golden Bears have four-straight wins with victories over UMary, Minot State, Southwest Minnesota State, and Wayne State. They are averaging 1.73 goals per game, while allowing just 0.60 to their foes. They average 11.6 shots per game, to 7.1 for their opponents. 

ON THE ATTACK. Amaya O'Hearn leads Concordia-St. Paul with eight assists and three goals this season. Concordia-St. Pauls front three has combined for 11 goals, and 12 assists this season. Sophia Haase is second on the team this season with four goals, and four assists. Sammy Ponsonby enters the weekend with four goals, and two assists, as does Ashley Bennett. 

SERIES. Concordia-St. Paul leads the series 18-6. The Golden Bears have won the last seven games in the series. Minnesota Crookston tied 0-0 with the Golden Bears in 2016 at home, and won 2-0 in Crookston in 2015. They also tied in St. Paul 0-0 in 2014. 

SECOND HALF SUCCESS. 19 out of their 26 goals this season have come in the second half of games, and they have given up five out of nine goals in the first half of games. It will be important to set the tone early for the Golden Eagles.

IN NET. Sydney Potter has been dominant in net for the Golden Bears, with a 0.38 goals against average, 31 saves, and a .886 saves percentage. Potter has started nine games. Kayla Matuzak has started four tilts, with a 1.23 goals against average.

MINNESOTA STATE. The Mavericks enter the final weekend of the regular season as the seventh-ranked team in the country. They are at the top of the NSIC with a 10-1-5 (9-0-3 NSIC) record. They are coming off a 0-0 tie with Northern State last Sunday. On Friday, they defeated MSU Moorhead 9-0. The Mavericks have a plus-29 goal differential with 33 goals scored, and only four allowed. They are scoring 2.06 goals per game, while allowing just 0.25. 

ON OFFENSE. Maddix Archer leads the squad with eight goals, and four assists. Addison Clarey comes in with three goals, and three assists, as does Avery Korsching. The Mavericks are taking 15.8 shots per tilt coming into the weekend. Their front three has combined for 14 goals, and 10 assists this season.

DEFENDING WITH SUCCESS. The Maverick defense has been strong, giving up just 0.25 goals per game, and 7.8 shots per tilt. In net, Clare Longueville has 13 starts with an impressive 0.25 goals per against average. Longueville has 38 saves, with a .927 saves percentage.

SERIES. Minnesota State has won 15-consecutive games in the series coming into Sunday. 

GAMEDAY

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Friday, November 1
TIME: 2 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/@UMNCrookstonSOC

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT WAYNE STATE
DATE: Sunday, November 3
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/@UMNCrookstonSOC

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 1 Emma Stempien (Plymouth, Mich.) 2.60 GAA, 22 saves
So. D 27 Kali Yates (Hedgesville, W.V.) 14 starts, 4 shots
So. D 17 Madison Lein (Bismarck, N.D.) 15 starts, 1 shot
Sr. D 23 Jada VanOverbeke (Hartford, S.D.) 3 starts
So. MF 9 Tessa VanOverbeke (Hartford, S.D.) 15 starts, 1 assist
So. MF 11 Emmah Burnes (Tulare, Calif.) 15 starts, 14 shots
Jr. MF 3 Julia Finch (Woodbury, Minn.) 15 starts, 6 shots
Fr. MF 16 Elise Lefers (Brookings, S.D.) 2 starts
Fr. F 5 Callie Holthaus (Richmond, Minn.) 4 starts, 8 shots
Jr. F 12 Sarah Burgum (Mandan, N.D.) 10 starts, 2 goals
Sr. F 13 Brooklyn Fischbach (South St. Paul, Minn.) 12 starts, 2 goals

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
Projected Starters
So. GK 99 Sydney Potter (South St. Paul, Minn.) 0.38 GAA, 31 saves
Jr. D 18 McKayla Stockness (Mahtomedi, Minn.) 13 starts, 1 assist
Fr. D 34 Morgan Bilczewski (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6 starts
Jr. D 24 Belle Abruzzo (Eagan, Minn.) 15 starts, 1 goal
Sr. MF 3 Brittany Bordson (Lino Lakes, Minn.) 1 goal, 1 assist
Sr. MF 8 Sydney Manthana (Rockford, Minn.) 15 starts, 3 goals
So. MF 17 Sophia Haase (Monticello, Minn.) 4 goals, 4 assists
Jr. MF 27 Clare Snapko (New Hope, Minn.) 3 goals, 3 assists
Jr. F 7 Ashley Bennett (Lakeville, Minn.) 4 goals, 2 assists
Sr. F 9 Amaya O'Hearn (Wausau, Wis.) 3 goals, 8 assists
Sr. F 13 Sammy Ponsonby (Lakeville, Minn.) 4 goals, 2 assists

MINNESOTA STATE
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 1 Clare Longueville (Eagan, Minn.) 0.25 GAA, 38 saves
Jr. D 27 Courtney Kovacs (Ankeny, Iowa) 12 starts, 2 shots
Sr. D 34 Kelsey Heller (Urbandale, Iowa) 15 starts, 1 assist
Fr. D 36 Maclayne Menzel (Iowa City, Iowa) 6 starts
Jr. D 15 Kiera Laney (Maple Grove, Minn.) 1 goal, 1 assist
So. MF 6 Maddix Archer (Brookings, S.D.) 8 goals, 4 assists
Gr. MF 11 Lucy Weninger (Ames, Iowa) 16 starts, 1 goal
Sr. MF 13 Ashlyn Watt (Adel, Iowa) 16 starts, 1 goal
Jr. MF 19 Anna Van Wyngarden (West Des Moines, Iowa) 1 goal, 5 assists
Jr. F 25 Avery Korsching (Grimes, Iowa) 3 goals, 3 assists
Jr. F 26 Addison Clarey (Rochester, Minn.) 3 goals, 3 assists

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can Minnesota Crookston's seniors have a strong final home weekend of their careers?

- Who will step up in the key moments for the Golden Eagles?

- Can Jordan Metz continue to have a strong season for Minnesota Crookston?

- Can a Golden Eagle freshman find the back of the net for the first time this season?