Women's Soccer | 11/5/2024 3:11:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON soccer team enters the final weekend of the 2024 season with a 1-14-2 (1-11-1 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles have shown a lot of growth during Neil Mancktelow's second season, and will look to end the slate on a positive note. Minnesota Crookston comes in averaging 0.24 goals per game, while allowing 2.29 goals per tilt to their foes. Minnesota Crookston is taking 7.2 shots per game, compared to 17.8 for their foes. The Golden Eagles picked up their first win and ties since the 2022 season in 2024, and have a bright future ahead with an overall young core to their team. 

• 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 Thursday with 13 shots, and seven shots on goal. She has started 14-of-17 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 18 shots,  10 have been 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 five games, with eight shots for the Golden Eagles. Anna Kuecker (Fr., D/MF, Marshall, Minn.) has nine 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 13 games in goal this season. Kali Yates (So., D, Hedgesville, W.V.) has been a key presence at center back with 16 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 14 starts this season. She has made several crucial saves for Minnesota Crookston. She enters the weekend with a 2.03 goals against average, 104 saves, and a .788 saves percentage. Metz is seven saves away from breaking into the Top 10 for saves in a season, surpassing Lexie Gauger in 2015, and Athena Mussenden in 2006. 

• SENIORS Thur. sday will be the final game of Minnesota Crookston's seven seniors careers. Emma Stempien(GK, Plymouth, Mich.) has 18 starts in her career, with 130 saves, and a .691 saves percentage. Brooklyn Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul, Minn.) comes into the weekend with four goals, and an assist in 55 starts in her career. Jacqueline Calderon (R-Sr., MF, Indio, Calif.) has been a five-year staple in the program. She has 30 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 38 starts, one goal, and two assists. Greta Saylor (Sr., MF, New Brighton, Minn.) has made 32 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 55 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 2.29 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. 

• ON THE ROAD. The Golden Eagles have found more success on the road this season, as they have ties against MSU Moorhead, and Black Hills State on the road, and a 2-1 victory over the University of Sioux Falls. Minnesota Crookston will round out their 2024 road slate at St. Cloud State Thursday. 

#Tidbits
ST. CLOUD STATE. The Huskies enter the final week of play with a 10-2-5 (7-1-5 NSIC) mark. St. Cloud State is currently fourth in the NSIC standings with 26 points. They are just one point behind Augustana, and two points behind Concordia-St. Paul. They are coming off a 1-1 tie with Winona State University November 1. The Huskies have a goal differential of 13, scoring 24 goals in 2024. St. Cloud State has scored 1.41 goals per game this season, while giving up 0.65 per game. They have had almost half of their shots overall be on goal this season. St. Cloud State has assisted on 22-of-24 goals scored in 2024.

IN GOAL. Meriel Orham has played every minute of every game in net for the Huskies. Orham has a 0.65 goals against average in 17 games, with a .828 saves percentage. Orham comes in with 53 saves. She has six shutouts this season. Orham does not have a game where she has allowed over one goal for St. Cloud State. 

SERIES. St. Cloud State leads the all-time series against Minnesota Crookston 19-0-1- The Huskies won last season's match-up in St. Cloud 6-0. The closest recent game was a 3-2 loss in 2021 in Crookston. The two squads tied 0-0 October 27, 2017 in St. Cloud. 

OFF THE BENCH. Sophomore Forward Lindsey Trapino has been a staple for the Huskies this season, scoring five goals, and two assists. Trapino has played in 17 games, but has only started two this season. Trapino comes into Thursday with a team-high 46 shots, with 24 coming on goal. Trapino had goals against Northern Michigan, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, MSU Moorhead, and Sioux Falls. She has been a key part of St. Cloud State's attack this season.

IN HER "PRIME". Ellie Primerano leads all St. Cloud State players this season with six goals and three helpers. Prim-erano comes in with 30 shots, with 14 on frame. The junior forward last found the back of the net October 20 against Northern State. She also had goals against MSU Moorhead, Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin Parkside, and Northern Michigan. 

GAMEDAY
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT ST. CLOUD STATE
DATE: Thursday, November 7
TIME: 2 p.m.
SITE: St. Cloud, Minn.
FIELD: Husky Stadium
LIVE STATS: https://scsuhuskies.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/scsuhuskies/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonSOC