Bethany women's soccer picked as sixth in preseason poll
Thursday, August 28, 2008

ST. PAUL (Aug. 28, 2008) – 2007 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) champion and NCAA tournament participant, the College of St. Scholastica was voted as the unanimous favorite to repeat as conference champions in the preseason coaches poll. The Saints, who have won the last four league titles, received 49 points in the poll. St. Scholastica returns four UMAC All-Conference selections from 2007, but will be without last year’s conference Player of the Year in Shannon Kresky, who graduated in May.

The University of Minnesota-Morris edged Northwestern College for second place in the preseason poll, scoring 40 points. The Cougars, who went 12-2 in UMAC play last season, return five starters, including sophomore Nina Jarnot (Sartell, Minn.). The standout forward recorded 12 goals and 30 points in 2007.

Northwestern, who received 39 points in the poll for third place, has nine starters returning. No player on the Eagles’ squad will be watched more than sophomore all-conference player Kyrie Joregenson (Decorah, Iowa), who led the UMAC in scoring last year with 20 goals.

Rounding out the league’s predicted top four teams is Crown College, who received 29 points. Crown returns seven if its starters from 2007, including first team all-conference forward Stephanie Lally (Princeton Junction, N.J.), who tallied 16 points last year.

Northland College netted 24 points, which was good for fifth place in the preseason poll. The Lumberjills look forward to watching junior forward Sarah Strobino, who received first team all-conference honors after a 14-goal season in 2007. Northland’s ship has a new captain this year, as former assistant coach and two-time UMAC all-conference player Ashley Bingaman Grant will assume the team’s head coaching duties.

Bethany Lutheran College was picked to finish sixth in the conference, earning 22 points. The Vikings have nine starters returning from 2007 after a fifth-place finish. Defender and first team all-conference selection Leah Fehr (N. Sioux City, S.D.) returns to the pitch to lead Bethany Lutheran in 2008.

Finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, in the preseason coaches poll was Martin Luther College (14 points) and Presentation College (seven points). Martin Luther ended their 2007 season in sixth place, while Presentation came in eighth.

1. College of St. Scholastica – 49 points (7 FPV)
2. University of Minnesota-Morris – 40 points
3. Northwestern College – 39 points (1)
4. Crown College – 29 points
5. Northland College – 24 points
6. Bethany Lutheran College – 22 points
7. Martin Luther College – 14 points
8. Presentation College – 7 points

2008 Women's Soccer Season Preview
Friday, August 01, 2008

Melissa Young

Mankato, Minn.—The 2007 season for the Bethany women’s soccer team was one of transition, as former Viking men’s player Derick Lyngholm returned to the campus to take over head coaching duties. A few losses in late season conference matches prevented the Vikings from staking claim to an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) post-season berth.

But the future appears very bright as this years team will feature a lot more stability, allowing them to build on the foundation of what was started last year and continue to improve. The team returns nine starters, 17 letter winners and a great deal of experience. On Offense, the Vikings will bring back sophomore Emmy Breuer (La Crescent, Minn./La Crescent) who was gone last year and returns lead the offensive attack. In 2006, Breuer led the Vikings with 18 goals. The midfield will be led by UMAC honorable mention winner Joelle Pipal (So., Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and the defense returns completely intact anchored by seniors Lindsi McCutchin (Cottage Grove, Minn./ Monona Grove), Jessica Costello (Zimmerman, Minn./West Lutheran) and Leah Fehr (N. Sioux City, S.D./Dakota Valley).

The 2008 recruiting class will feature some familiar names. Anna Potz (White Bear Lake, Minn./Totino-Grace) and Kristin Renner (Victoria, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) will join their older sisters Denise Potz (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake Area) and Katie Renner (Victoria, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) in Viking uniforms this fall. Forward Becky Neetz (Heritage) from Saginaw, Mich. could also see some important minutes with a great soccer resume to her credit. Add in Amy Anderson (Yelm, Wash.) and Rebekka Mantagne (McKenna, Wash.) both from Evergreen Lutheran high school, and Megan Nibbe (Apple Valley, Minn., Bethany Academy) and the Vikings will be well-equipped to face their 2008 competition.

When asked his expectations for the 2008, head coach, Derick Lyngholm, stated “We have the talent and the experience to be very competitive this year, but our success will based in large part on our ability to maximize our practice sessions. The 2008 Vikings will be a committed, focused and efficient team. We will play hard, we will play smart and we will play together.”

The Vikings will open their season at home against Bethel University on August 29, 2008 at 4 p.m.