Women's Soccer | 11/3/2025 9:43:00 AM

• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON soccer team concludes the 2025 season with the second battle for the Highway 75 Rivalry Rock Thursday, November 3 at 2 p.m. The Golden Eagles claimed the Rivalry Rock with their 1-0 win in non-conference play over the Dragons. Minnesota Crookston is looking to end their first season of a new era under Head Coach Danny Burstein on a positive note. They have shown great growth this season, and are coming off a 1-1 tie against UMary Sunday. Minnesota Crookston surpassed their goal total from 2024 with five thus far, and have given up 15 fewer goals during the current slate. Minnesota Crookston comes in averaging 4.2 shots per game, while allowing 17.6 to their foes. The Golden Eagles can jump into the 15th spot in the conference standings with a win over MSU Moorhead, and either a loss or tie for Southwest Minnesota State against Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles have not finished above the last spot since 2016, as they look to show their continued improvement as a program.

• RIVALRY ROCK SERIES. Minnesota Crookston is 8-20-2 all-time against the Dragons dating back to 1999. They won the earlier match-up this season 1-0 and tied with the Dragons 2-2 in Moorhead in 2024. MSU Moorhead won back-to-back games in 2022 and 2023. Minnesota Crookston's most recent stint with back-to-back wins came in 2015 and 2016. Since the Rivalry Rock series began in 2013, the Dragons have the edge 6-5-2. Minnesota Crookston has not beaten the Dragons in Crookston since a 2-1 victory October 9, 2010.

• DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE. The Golden Eagles have had a string of highly-competitive games, even against some of the top teams in the conference. In the last 11 games Minnesota Crookston has six one-score games, two ties, and three 2-0 defeats including two by two of the top teams in the conference. Minnesota Crookston has allowed just 14 goals in the last 11 games. The Golden Eagles have scored just twice in that span, but are coming off a goal Sunday against UMary.

• SHUTTING THEM DOWN. Minnesota Crookston has had strong play in net this season, helping to keep them in games. Jordan Metz (So., GK, Lino Lakes, Minn.) has made an impact in net as a sophomore after starting most of the games as a freshman. Metz has a 1.60 goals against average, with 74 saves, and a .860 saves percentage. Metz earned the tie in net Sunday against the Marauders. Payton King (Fr., GK, Fairfield, Calif.) has also made an impact in goal for UMN Crookston. King has
started nine games, and has a 1.41 goals against average, with 59 saves. King has posted a .831 saves percentage.

• E IS FOR ELISE. Elise Lefers (So., F, Brookings, S.D.) leads the Golden Eagles with two goals this season. Lefers is coming off an important goal against UMary Sunday in a 1-1 tie versus the Marauders. Lefers has started three games, playing mostly off the bench at forward for the Golden Eagles. She has 13 shots, with nine shots on goal in 2025. Lefers was the Offensive Player to Watch for Minnesota Crookston in preseason, and has proven the reason, as the team's top goal-scorer. Lefers scored the game-winner against the Dragons earlier this season to claim the Highway 75 Rivalry Rock September 12.

• FINCHTASTIC. Julia Finch (Sr., D/MF, Woodbury, Minn.) has played an integral role at outside back for the Golden Eagles. She has three points, with a goal, and an assist. Finch got the play rolling that led to Lefers goal against the Marauders Sunday, picking up the helper. Finch has started 16 games at outside back, and has four shots. The senior, who will be playing her final game in the maroon and gold, notched her first-career goal September 7 versus Black Hills State.

• AUTUMN IS HERE. The season of Autumn has arrived, as has Autumn Rabe (R-So., MF/F, Kewaskum, Wis.), who scored her first-ever goal at Minnesota Crookston putting a cap off a strong free kick from Riley Edemann (Fr., D, Santa Clarita, Calif.) against Augustana. Rabe has started seven games, with one goal, and four shots.

• SET UP FROM SYDNEY. Minnesota Crookston sophomore Sydney Christopherson (MF/F, Sioux Falls, S.D.) picked up an important assist on Lefers' goal versus UMary Sunday. The point was the first of her career for Christopherson. She has played in all 17 games, with eight starts. Christopherson has three shots, with two on frame.

• SENIORS. Minnesota Crookston seniors Finch, Sarah Burgum (Sr., F, Mandan, N.D.), and Emma Dudycha (Sr., D/MF, Austin, Minn.) will play their final game in the maroon and gold Thursday against the Dragons. All three have played integral parts in setting the culture for the Golden Eagles, and will look to make a major impact Thursday.

• NEW ERA. Minnesota Crookston is in a new era of soccer with Head Coach Danny Burstein. Burstein is almost done with his first season as head coach for the Golden Eagles. Burstein has been an experienced coach. He is coming off a year as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada. He previously spent three seasons at North Dakota. Burstein was the head men's soccer coach in 2020 for the University of Providence in Montana. He has also been an assistant at the University of Providence, and Adams State University. Burstein earned his first win as the Golden Eagle boss against MSU Moorhead earlier this season. He has also garnered ties versus Upper Iowa, Northern State, and UMary.

• MSU MOORHEAD. Minnesota State University Moorhead enters Crookston with a 3-13-1 (2-12 NSIC) record. The
Dragons have lost eight-straight dating back to a 2-1 win over Jamestown. They are in their second season under Head Coach Scott Forster. They come in averaging 0.76 goals, and allowing 3.29 goals per game to their foes. MSU Moorhead is averaging 10.1 shots per game, compared to 23.7 to their foes.

• LEAVE IT UP TO LILLY. Lilly Johnson guides the Dragon attack this season with seven points off three goals, and an assist. Johnson has 19 shots, with nine shots on goal. She found the back of the net Sunday against Minot State. She also scored versus Northern State, and Jamestown.

• NO SLEEP, TIL BROOKLYN. Senior Brooklyn Broderick has also been a vital offensive player for the Dragons. She comes in with three goals, off 23 shots this season. Broderick has started 15 games. She last found the back of the net against St. Cloud State October 24.

• THE STRAW THAT STIRS THE DRINK. Mary Cox has been an important facilitator for the Dragons in the midfield. The sophomore from Evergreen, Colo., leads the team with four assists. She also has 19 shots for MSU Moorhead in 2025. Cox has an assist versus Minot State. She also notched them against Augustana, Southwest Minnesota State, and Minnesota Duluth.

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON GOLDEN EAGLES
Head Coach: Danny Burstein
Career Record: 1-13-3 (First Season at Minnesota Crookston)

MSU MOORHEAD DRAGONS
Head Coach: Scott Forster
Career Record: 4-27-4 (Second Season at MSU Moorhead)

GAMEDAY

MSU MOORHEAD AT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
DATE: Thursday, November 6
TIME: 2 p.m.
SITE: Crookston, Minn.
FIELD: Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field
LIVE STATShttps://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/goldeneaglesports/
X: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonSOC

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
So. GK 00 Jordan Metz (Lino Lakes, Minn.) 1.60 GAA, 74 saves, .860 saves pct.
Fr. D 3 Riley Edemann (Santa Clarita, Calif.) 17 starts, 1 assist
So. D 21 Norah Lutz (Dewitt, Mich.) 17 games played, 15 starts
Jr. D 9 Tessa VanOverbeke (Hartford, S.D.) 17 starts, 3 shots
Sr. D 6 Julia Finch (Woodbury, Minn.) 1 goal, 1 assist
So. MF 13 Andrea Cuenca Medina (South St. Paul, Minn.) 17 starts, 3 shots
Jr. MF 10 Emmah Burnes (Tulare, Calif.) 17 starts, 4 shots
Fr. MF 32 Lilly Goehring (Hartford, S.D.) 3 starts, 1 assist
Jr. MF 4 Kedin Geremiah (Winnipeg, Manitoba) 11 starts, 3 shots
Fr. MF 33 Aleisha Cortez (South St. Paul, Minn.) 12 starts, 10 shots
Sr. F 12 Sarah Burgum (Mandan, N.D.) 14 starts, 17 shots


MSU MOORHEAD
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 00 Rylee Truslow (Nellysford, Va.) 3.04 GAA, 85 saves, .752 saves pct.
Jr. D 8 Lilly Allen (Missoula, Mont.) 16 starts, 5 shots
Sr. D 25 Lizzy Jaraczeski (Great Falls, Mont.) 17 starts, 3 shots
So. D 22 Gracie Sauvageau (Fargo, N.D.) 11 starts, 1 shot
So. MF 14 Mary Cox (Evergreen, Colo.) 17 starts, 4 assists
So. MF 16 Sophie Thompson (Auckland, New Zealand) 13 starts, 1 goal
So. MF 19 Abby Toso (Maple Grove, Minn.) 6 starts, 1 assist
Fr. MF 29 Lauryn Katzenberger (Marshfield, Wis.) 3 starts, 1 goal
Sr. F 11 Lilly Johnson (North Branch, Minn.) 3 goals, 1 assist
Sr. F 13 Blayke Hurley (Horace, N.D.) 12 games played, 11 starts
R-Sr. F 17 Brooklyn Broderick (Kannapolis, N.C.) 15 starts, 3 goals

KEYS TO THE WEEK

- Can Minnesota Crookston retain the Rivalry Rock after claiming it earlier this seaosn in non-conference play?

- Can the Golden Eagles jump a spot in the standings?

- Will Minnesota Crookston be able to find the back of the net after scoring Sunday against UMary?

- What impact will the Seniors have in their final game as Golden Eagles?

- Can Minnesota Crookston have their first back-to-back wins in the Highway 75 Rivalry Rock series since 2015 and 2016?