Women's Soccer | 9/13/2024 1:57:00 PM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON soccer team comes into the second week of the season with an 0-2 mark. While they haven't found the win column yet, they have shown growth on the defensive end. Through two games, they are allowing just one goal per game, and 17.5 shots per game. Through the 2023 season, Minnesota Crookston allowed 3.72 goals per game and 26.5 shots per game. Both decreases have been dramatic, and will help the Golden Eagles stay in more games this season. Last season, Minnesota Crookston had just one game where they allowed one goal. On the offensive side of the ball, the Golden Eagles have generated more opportunities. They come in averaging 5.0 shots per game, with 7-of-10 of their shots being shots on target. Last season, they averaged 4.2 goals per game.

• IMPACT NEWCOMERS. The Golden Eagles have 11 newcomers on the 2024 roster. So far, the newcomers have had a great impact on the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston has started seven new faces this year, with nine appearing in games. The newcomers will have tremendous impact on the growth of the soccer team long term and in the 2024 season. 

• CHERNECKI. Winnipeg, Manitoba native Tyler Chernecki has made an immediate impact for the Golden Eagles. Chernecki has generated a host of solid chances on the offensive end with her speed. She leads the team with three shots, with all three coming on frame. Chernecki has started both games for Minnesota Crookston in 2024. 

• IN NET. Emma Stempien (Sr., GK, Plymouth, Mich.), and Jordan Metz (Fr., GK) have had a strong start to the 2024 season for Minnesota Crookston. The pair comes in with matching 1.00 goals against averages, as they have limited the opposing offenses. Metz had 10 saves against the University of Nebraska Kearney, while Stempien notched six versus Lincoln University. The play of the goalkeepers will be vital for Minnesota Crookston as they move forward this season. 

• RETURNERS. In addition to the newcomers, the Golden Eagles have several newcomers who are helping to bring stability and guidance to Minnesota Crookston on the pitch. Emmah Burnes (So., MF, Tulare, Calif.), Julia Finch (Jr., MF, Woodbury, Minn.), Madison Lein (So., D, Bismarck, N.D.), and Tessa VanOverbeke (So., D/MF, Hartford, S.D.) have all started both games this season. In addition, Greta Saylor (Sr., MF, New Brighton, Minn.), Sarah Burgum (Jr., F, Mandan, N.D.), and Brooklyn Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul, Minn.) have started a game apiece this season. 

• ATTACK. Thus far, the Golden Eagle attack has been led by Chernecki, Burgum, Burnes, and Fischbach. Chernecki leads the team with three shots, Burnes and Burgum each have two, as does Fischbach. Fischbach led the team with two goals in 2023. It will be of interest to see who is the first Golden Eagle to find the back of the net in 2024. 

• 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. 

• BACK LINE. The back line is imperative for the Golden Eagles, and it has been solid through two games led by Lein, Yates, and Tessa VanOverbeke. The Golden Eagles have limited good looks for the opposing offenses, and have held the teams to just one goal. Continuing to put up the statistics like this will keep the Golden Eagles in games and allow for the offense to strike and pick up points. 

BLACK HILLS STATE- Coming off of a 3-12-2 season last year, the Yellow Jackets have continued to struggle at the start of this season with a record of 0-2-1, they haven't scored a goal this season but have given up eight. With the hiring of a new coach John Hutchison last year, this team is looking to improve with a lot of important returning players from last season.

FORWARDS - Black Hills State is returning both of their most productive attackers last season. Jayda Hammer led the team as a sophomore with four goals last year. Hailey Warren had two goals and three assists also, she will be an important part of this team as a senior this year. Black Hills State is also returning Katy Vinton who started nine out of their 15 games last year, as a sophomore. 

MIDFIELD -  Leah Day and Lena Homan are 2 veteran midfielders that started most games and got a lot of minutes last year. Also returning is Kayla Osegueda who played almost all of her minutes off of the bench, but bagged two goals and two assists anyways. Also Chloe Lonneman who started ten games in the midfield. Overall it looks like a very deep and experienced midfield. 

DEFENDERS - The defense is anchored by senior Allie Brown, who started 16 games with one assist as a junior. In 
addition, Makaiah Carlson returns in the back after starting 16 games, while Rylee Barnes is back after starting a game. Freshman Bria Sargent has made an impact through the first three games, as has freshman Zoe Evans. Junior Ainsley Wilson is back after starting four in 2023. Transfer Oceanna Solis has seen action in two games so far this season. 

IN NET - Senior Makayla Dannelly leads the way in net for the Yellow Jackets. She was a 2022 All-RMAC Second Team selection. Last year, she started 14 games. As a junior, Dannelly led the RMAC with 6.93 saves per game. Junior Zoe Wiggall has one start so far this season for Black Hills State. 

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT BLACK HILLS STATE
DATE: Sunday, September 15 
TIME: 11 a.m.
SITE: Spearfish, S.D.
FIELD: Black Hills Power Sports Complex
LIVE STATS: https://bhsuathletics.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://rmacnetwork.com/bhsu/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 1 Emma Stempien (Plymouth, Mich.) or  1 start, 1.00 GAA, 6 saves
Fr. GK 00 Jordan Metz (Lino Lakes, Minn.) 1 start, 1.00 GAA, 10 saves
So. D 9 Tessa VanOverbeke (Hartford, S.D.) 2 starts
So. D 27 Kali Yates (Hedgesville, W.V.) 2 starts
So. D 17 Madison Lein (Bismarck, N.D.) 2 starts
Sr. MF 18 Greta Saylor (New Brighton, Minn.) or  1 start
Fr. MF 20 Anna Kuecker (Marshall, Minn.) 1 start
Jr. MF 3 Julia Finch (Woodbury, Minn.) 2 starts
Fr. MF 8 Andrea Cuenca Medina (St. Paul, Minn.) 2 starts, 1 shot
So. MF 11 Emmah Burnes (Tulare, Calif.) 2 starts, 2 shots
Fr. F 2 Tyler Chernecki (Winnipeg, Manitoba) 2 starts, 3 shots
Fr. F 7 Sydney Christopherson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) or 1 start
Fr. F 16 Elise Lefers (Brookings, S.D.) 1 start
Jr. F 12 Sarah Burgum (Mandan, N.D.) or 1 start, 2 shots
Sr. F 13 Brooklyn Fischbach (South St. Paul, Minn.) 1 start, 2 shots

BLACK HILLS STATE
Projected Starters
Jr. GK 88 Zoe Wiggall (Dunfermline, Scotland) or 1 start, 5.00 GAA, 6 saves
Sr. GK 1 Makayla Dannelly (Broomfield, Colo.) 2 starts, 1.50 GAA, 9 saves
Fr. D 7 Bria Sargent (Pierre, S.D.) 3 starts
So. D 11 Makaiah Carlson (Centennial, Colo.) 2 starts, 1 shot
Jr. D 19 Ainsley Wilson (Loveland, Colo.) 3 starts
Sr. D 26 Allie Brown (Ellensburg, Wash.) 3 starts
Sr. MF 6 Chloe Lonneman (Sioux Falls, S.D.) 2 starts, 2 shots
Jr. MF 18 Whitney Hansen (Lander, Wyo.) 3 starts, 3 shots
Sr. MF 28 Hailey Warren (Pleasant Grove, Utah) 3 starts, 5 shots
R-Jr. MF 24 Taylor Hernandez (Centennial, Colo.) 1 start
R-Jr. F 27 Katy Vinton (North Pole, Alaska) 3 starts, 3 shots
Jr. F 9 Anacel Valenzuela-Acosta (Phoenix, Ariz.) 3 starts, 2 shots

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Both teams have yet to score this season, who will be the first team to get a goal in 2024?

- What freshmen will make a major impact on the game against Black Hills State?

- What returners will make their presence known for Minnesota Crookston?

- Can the Golden Eagles keep the ball out of their final third, and limit strong chances for the Yellow Jackets?

- Can Minnesota Crookston generate good looks at goal and control possession?