Women's soccer All-Conference awards announced
Monday, November 10, 2008

ST. PAUL (Nov. 10, 2008) – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released its 2008 women’s soccer all-conference awards on Monday following the league’s postseason tournament championship on Saturday, Nov. 8. The College of St. Scholastica, who swept both the regular season and conference tournament titles for the second straight year, led all teams with seven selections.

Northland College, who finished third in the conference standings, had six all-conference awards, while second place-Northwestern College earned five individual honors.

St. Scholastica’s Robin Johnson and Northland’s Sarah Strobino were selected as the league’s Co-Players of the Year. Both players broke their respective school’s record for career goals this season. Johnson led the conference in total points (37), while Strobino was the UMAC’s top goal scorer (15). Both statistics were attained in only UMAC affairs.

Northwestern head coach Josh Pettit was voted as the conference’s Coach of the Year, as he led the Eagles to 12-2 record and a second place finish in the UMAC after going 8-5-1 in 2007.

See below for a full listing of the 2008 women’s soccer all-conference awards.

1st Team All-Conference

Name, Institution, Year, Position
Emmy Breuer, Bethany Lutheran, Sophomore, Forward
Jessica Costello, Bethany Lutheran, Senior, Defender
Joelle Pipal, Bethany Lutheran, Sophomore, Midfielder
Angie Groh, St. Scholastica, Junior, Midfielder
Robin Johnson *, St. Scholastica, Senior, Midfielder
Jen Krokum, St. Scholastica, Junior, Forward
Ellyn Litecky, St. Scholastica, Junior, Defender
Miranda Baltzer, Crown, Freshman, Forward
Bethany Rossetti, Crown, Junior, Midfielder
Lindsay Hahn, Martin Luther, Freshman, Defender
Sarah Janke, Martin Luther, Senior, Midfielder
Brittany Ballwanz, Northland, Senior, Goalkeeper
Rebecca Lake, Northland, Freshman, Defender
Amanda Seely, Northland, Junior, Midfielder
Sarah Strobino *, Northland, Junior, Forward
Lindsay Anderson, Northwestern, Junior, Defender
Kyrie Jorgenson, Northwestern, Sophomore, Forward
Bridget Piche, Northwestern, Freshman, Defender
Nikki Seviola, Northwestern, Senior, Midfielder
Rachel Scott, Presentation, Freshman, Goalkeeper
Maddy Gerber, Minnesota, Morris, Junior, Midfielder
Nina Jarnot, Minnesota, Morris, Junior, Forward

Honorable Mention All-Conference

Name, Institution, Year, Position
Sara Olson, St. Scholastica, Senior, Forward
Erin Olejnicak, St. Scholastica, Freshman, Goalkeeper
Kristen Stangel, St. Scholastica, Senior, Midfielder
Kathryn Dickson, Martin Luther, Junior, Defender
Mariah Cook, Northland, Junior, Forward
Bryanna Johnson, Northland, Freshman, Defender
Rhonda Morgan, Northwestern, Junior, Goalkeeper
Emily Jacob, Minnesota, Morris, Sophomore, Goalkeeper

Women’s soccer ties Martin Luther in season finale
Saturday, November 01, 2008

Joseph Baer

Mankato, Minn. - The Bethany women’s soccer team answered a Martin Luther goal in the first half but couldn’t get another one in before the end of overtime and finished Saturday afternoon’s game in a tie, 1-1.

The Knights opened up the scoring in minute 28 with a Hannah Janke goal from a Sarah Janke setup. Bethany then answered nine minutes later when Denise Potz (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake Area) worked out a corner kick play with Joelle Pipal (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and then finished Pipal’s setup with a picture perfect chip shot over the goalie into the net. The goal tied up the match, but was followed with 73 minutes of scoreless soccer when neither team could crack each other’s defense.

Amanda Koch played goalkeeper for Martin Luther and made nine saves on 10 shots. Katie Renner finished her seasons with three saves on four shots.

The Martin Luther Knight’s record moves to 5-12-2 (4-9-1 UMAC) with the tie, while the Bethany women’s soccer team finishes their season with a 5-11-4 (3-8-3 UMAC) record.

Women’s soccer loses to Northwestern in tightly played match
Saturday, October 25, 2008

Joseph Baer

Mankato, Minn. – The Bethany women’s soccer team couldn’t redeem a crazy goal from Northwestern College on Saturday, and fell in a low-scoring affair to one of the top teams in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), 1-0.

The Eagles got their goal seven minutes into the match when Kyrie Jorgenson kicked the ball from near midfield and put it just over the Bethany goalkeeper Katie Renner (Victoria, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) and just below the crossbar. The great shot, aided by a strong helping wind, looked as if it was almost a cross and it fooled the Bethany defense. Bethany ended up putting three quality scoring chances on net after the Eagles score, but couldn’t tie it up before the end of regulation.

Goalkeeper for Northwestern in the win was Rhonda Morgan. Morgan made three saves on three Bethany shots on goal. Renner made seven saves on eight shots for the Vikings.

The win moves Northwestern record to 11-7 (10-2 UMAC). The Bethany women played a great, competitive game but ultimately fall to 5-11-3 (3-8-2 UMAC) after the loss. The Vikings will finish their season next weekend at Noon on Saturday, when they host rival Martin Luther College.

Close game ends in tie for women's soccer
Friday, October 24, 2008

Joseph Baer

Mankato, Minn. – The Bethany women’s soccer team scored two goals early in a Friday contest against Crown College, but the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

The Vikings didn’t take long to score. In minute three, Kristin Renner (Victoria, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) capitalized on a crossing pass from Emmy Breuer (La Crescent, Minn./La Crescent) and headed the ball into the corner of the goal. The goal was also assisted by Denise Potz (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake Area). Then the two teams traded goals before the half, Missy Herrity of Crown College scored with a hard shot but was later answered by Bethany’s Joelle Pipal. Pipal, who was set-up by an Anna Potz (White Bear Lake, Minn./Totino-Grace) pass, blasted a shot to the low corner of the net. Bethany held the a 2-1 lead until minute 58, when a 30 yard free kick by Crown’s Shauna Schiebout found its way into the net and the Storm tied it up at two. Overtime couldn’t decide it and the game ended in a tie.

Katie Renner (Victoria, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) played goalkeeper for the Vikings in the stalemate. Renner made eight saves on 10 shots. Crown’s goalkeeper was Carrie Meyer who finished with 15 saves on 17 shots on goal.

The Bethany women’s soccer record now sits at 5-10-3 (3-7-2 UMAC). The Vikings will look to improve that mark against a tough Northwestern College team on Saturday at Noon.