Women's Soccer | 9/4/2024 3:41:00 PM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston women's soccer team will commence the 2024 season with a pair of games in Sioux Falls at the USF Fall Brawl Friday, September 6 and Sunday, September 8. They will face a brand new program, Lincoln University of Missouri Friday, and will face the University of Nebraska Kearney Sunday.

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON GOLDEN EAGLES
Head Coach: Neil Mancktelow (SUNY Canton)
Career Record: 0-18 (Second Season at Univeristy of Minnesota Crookston)

LINCOLN BLUE TIGERS
Head Coach: Leah Stringer (Central Christian College, 2011)
Career Record: 0-0 (First Season at Lincoln)

NEBRASKA KEARNEY LOPERS
Head Coach: Rob Breton (West Virginia Wesleyan University)
Career Record: 3-28-5 (Third Season at Nebraska Kearney)

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON VS. LINCOLN
USF FALL BRAWL
DATE: Friday, September 6
TIME: 4 p.m.
SITE: Sioux Falls, S.D.
FIELD: Bob Young Field
LIVE STATS: https://usfcougars.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports
X: @UMNCrookstonATH

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON VS. NEBRASKA KEARNEY
USF FALL BRAWL
DATE: Sunday, September 8
TIME: 2 p.m.
SITE: Sioux Falls, S.D.
FIELD: Bob Young Field
LIVE STATS: https://usfcougars.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports
X: @UMNCrookstonATH

KEYS TO THE WEEKEND

- Can the Golden Eagles find success on the road to open the season?

- Will Minnesota Crookston be able to generate more offensive opportunities in the first two games?

- What newcomers will make an instant impact for the Golden Eagles in the first two games?

- Will the defense limit solid chances in their defensive third, and shut down set pieces?

- What veterans will take key leadership roles for the young squad?

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON soccer team comes into the season with their largest roster in program history with 27 student-athletes. They will have a young squad in 2024, featuring 18 freshmen and sophomores. The Golden Eagles do return a substantial amount of players with experience. Minnesota Crookston brings back eight starters from a season ago. In addition, the Golden Eagles have seven players who saw starting time last year. The Golden Eagles are looking to increase their offensive production. Minnesota Crookston scored three goals in 2023, with 4.2 shots per game. Defensively, the Golden Eagles allowed 3.72 goals per game in 2023, with 26.5 shots per game allowed. They will look to improve on both ends in Neil Mancktelow's second season as the head coach.  

• LEADING SCORER. Minnesota Crookston's leading scorer a season ago was senior Brooklyn Fischbach. She led the squad with two goals and 12 shots in 2023. Fischbach is a converted goalkeeper. She came to the school as a goalkeeper, but spent most of her freshman season in the field. Fischbach played in net as a sophomore, before moving back to being a field player as a junior. She started all 18 games as a junior and will be a crucial player in 2024, both as a leader and in a role on the pitch. 

• NEWCOMERS. Minnesota Crookston has a strong group of newcomers that have come into the fray for the 2024 season and have made their impact seen in preseason practice and exhibitions. The Golden Eagles have 11 newcomers overall with Jordan Metz, Tyler Chernecki, Callie Holthaus, Sydney Christopherson, Andrea Cuenca Medina, Elise Lefers, Anna Kuecker,  Corinne Meyer, Riley Martin, Kali Yates, and Emma Dudycha. The newcomers will be a crucial part of the Golden Eagles success with their large number and impact on the program. 

• UP FRONT. At the front of the lineup, the Golden Eagles are led by Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul, Minn.) and Sarah Burgum (Jr., F, Mandan, N.D.). Fischbach leads the way with two goals, while Burgum had an assist in 2023. Kedin Geremiah (So., F, Winnipeg, Manitoba) started six games as a freshman and had 12 shots. The Golden Eagles will also rely a lot on the 
newcomers in the attack. Chernecki, Holthaus, Christopherson, and Meyer will look to make their impact as newcomers. 

• CENTER OF THE PITCH. The Golden Eagles have a mix of experience and newcomers in the middle of the pitch. Emmah Burnes (So., MF, Tulare, Calif.) started 17 games as a freshman and made an impact for the Golden Eagles. Greta Saylor (Sr., MF, New Brighton, Minn.) returns after starting 17 games, while Jacqueline Calderon (R-Sr., MF, Indio, Calif.) is in her fifth season after starting eight games last year. Lanie Padelford (Sr., MF, Mahtomedi, Minn.) is also in her final season, starting seven games in 2023. Abby Fettinger (Sr., MF, White Bear Lake, Minn.) started three games in 2023, while Julia Finch (Jr., MF, 
Woodbury, Minn.) started nine games for Minnesota Crookston. Alina Ivashchenko (So., MF) came off the bench in six games as a freshman. Marsia Green (So., MF, Waconia, Minn.) started four games as a freshman, and tallied an assist. Minnesota Crookston will also have newcomers Andrea Cuenca Medina (Fr., MF, South St. Paul, Minn.), and Elise Lefers (Fr., MF, Brookings, S.D.). 

• BACK LINE. The Golden Eagles have a mix of experience and newcomers in their back line. Madison Lein (So., D, Bismarck, N.D.) started 17 games as a freshman. Tessa VanOverbeke (So., D, Hartford, S.D.) is a player who can play all over the pitch and tallied a goal in 2023. Her sister Jada VanOverbeke (Sr., D, Hartford, S.D.) has been an All-NSIC player in her career, and started 14 games a season ago. Minnesota Crookston will also look to newcomers Riley Martin (Fr., D, San Dimas, Calif.), Kali Yates (So., D, Hedgesville, W.V.), Anna Kuecker (Fr., D, Marshall, Minn.), and Emma Dudycha (R-So., D, Austin, Minn.).

• 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. 

• IN NET. In net, the Golden Eagles return Emma Stempien (Sr., GK, Plymouth, Mich.), who started two games in 2023, with a 4.00 goals against average. She will battle for time in net with newcomer Jordan Metz (Fr., GK, Lino Lakes, Minn.).

#Tidbits

LINCOLN. Lincoln University of Missouri is in their first season as a program entering the 2024 slate. The Blue Tigers are guided by Head Coach Leah Stringer, who had previously been an assistant coach at Missouri Western State University. The Blue Tigers first game as a program will come against Minnesota Crookston.

ROSTER.  The inaugural roster for Lincoln consists of 19 players. The Blue Tigers have 12 freshmen, and seven transfers who have joined the program. In goal, Kanon Dehama had a 1.15 goals against average in 19 games at Cowley College. Michelle Granja had a 2.16 goals against average in 14 starts for Iowa Lakes Community College. Carolina Dos Santos comes in after tallying two goals, and four assists in 2023 for Garden City Community College. Ivanna Faria comes to the Blue Tigers after notching five goals and five assists for Barton Community College. Faith Wylie started 13 games, and had an assist for Murray State College in 2024. Cierra Bradley is coming off four assists in 17 starts for St. Louis Community College. The rest of the roster for Lincoln is untested at the collegiate level.

NEBRASKA KEARNEY. The Lopers are coming off a 3-13-2 mark in 2023. They are in their third season under Head Coach Rob Breton. Nebraska Kearney has improved each season under Breton going 0-15-3 in 2022, and improving to 3-13-2 in 2023. The Lopers return seven starters from 2023, and several players who saw significant roles off the bench. Nebraska Kearney brings back Susie Bovaird in net. The top goal scorer returning is Corynne Olsen, who notched two goals, and two assists in 2023. Katie Pagel is also back after tallying one goal and three assists. 

FORWARDS. Up front, the Lopers are relatively young. The two top returners for Nebraska Kearney are sophomore 
Jordan Renard, and senior Ivanna Siles. Siles tallied two goals for the Lopers a season ago, while Renard started seven games and did not score. Hanna Schimmer transfers in after tallying 16 goals and four assists for Midland University last season. Freshmen Daniella Iaquinta, Billie Forrest, Camrynn Nitta, and Jameson Yost will add to the attack for the Lopers. 

MIDFIELD. The Lopers are relatively experienced in the midfield group coming into this weekend. Olsen is the leading scorer returning for Nebraska Kearney with two goals, and two assists. Siles they can play in the midfield, as well, and scored two goals. Reagan Downes is back after securing a goal, and two assists. Emily Flowers, Gracie Perez, and Sarah Levy all tallied goals a season ago. Kea Barnes notched an assist. In addition, Dolcie Hanlon started all 18 games, Mia Lang started five, and Rachel Warrick started two. Taylor McGarrahan took a medical redshirt in 2023. The Lopers also bring in a couple of transfers in the middle of the park. Anna Thorhallsdottir appeared in 15 games for Division I Nicholls State University. Keila Gillispie played three seasons at Division I Kansas State University. 

BACK END.  Nebraska Kearney is anchored by four defenders who return from last season. Katie Pagel started all 18 games, notching a goal, and tree assists. Ilana Wurzbacher started nine games, Angelina Iocca started one, and Morgan Scanlon appeared in six games. Gillispie can also play on the back end. In net, Nebraka Kearney returns both
 goalkeepers. Susie Bovaird posted a 1.95 goals against average in 15 games, with 59 saves. Mackenzie Smith played in 10 games, with a 2.49 goals against average.