Saints Picked as Favorite in 2015 UMAC Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
2015 UMAC Woman’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll
1. 63 Points – College of St. Scholastica (7 First Place Votes)
2. 57 Points – University of Minnesota-Morris (2)
3. 38 Points – University of Northwestern
T-4. 36 Points – Bethany Lutheran College
T-4. 36 Points – University of Wisconsin-Superior
6. 35 Points – Martin Luther College
7. 32 Points – Northland College
8. 18 Points – Crown College
9. 9 Points – North Central University
ST. PAUL – 2014 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women’s soccer champion, the College of St. Scholastica is predicted to again claim the conference title in 2015. The Saints earned a total of 63 points and seven first place votes to take the top spot in the annual coaches' preseason poll. The University of Minnesota-Morris finished in second place earning 57 points with the University of Northwestern earning 38 points and claiming third place.
1. College of St. Scholastica Saints
2014 Overall Record: 15-7-1
2014 UMAC Record: 1st
2014 UMAC Finish: 13-0-1
Starters Returning: 6
Starters Lost: 5
The St. Scholastica women’s soccer team has won 11 straight UMAC regular season championships and has made the NCAA Division III Tournament seven of the last eight seasons. The Saints have lost in overtime in each of their last two NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Saints enter 2015 with plenty of questions with the biggest being, where is the scoring going to come from. With the departure of the program’s leading scorer and four-time UMAC Player of the Year Kelsey Kehtel, as well as, midfielders Casey Mitchell and Jalyn Britton, the Saints lose 56 percent of their total offensive output from last season. The top returning point scorer is junior Leah Hamm, who recorded eight goals and four assists in 2014. Outside of Hamm, junior midfielders Taylor Rozmark and Kirtsen Olsen had eight points apiece.
Alexi Bopray, Kate Burley and Karen Kersting return to the back line. Back in net is senior goalkeeper Kelsey Reeves who already holds the program record for career wins and shutouts.
2. University of Minnesota-Morris Cougars
2014 Overall Record: 14-6-1
2014 UMAC Record: 12-1-1
2014 UMAC Finish: 2nd
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 6
Minnesota Morris graduated seven seniors last year and lost another key player, but despite the significant losses they do return three All-UMAC performers. UMAC Rookie of the Year Molly Hancuh is back as is All-Region keeper Torri Jordan and All-UMAC player Emma LaChance.
Last year the Cougars went 12-1-1 and reached the UMAC Championship before falling in overtime. The top two scorers are back from last year but UMM will have their work cut out for them to make it back to the UMAC Championship in 2015.
A group of seven first year players will look to make an immediate impact this season.
3. University of Northwestern Eagles
2014 Overall Record: 6-13
2014 UMAC Record: 6-8
2014 UMAC Finish: 6th
Starters Returning: 8
Starters Lost: 3
Northwestern graduated three players in 2015 as the Eagles hope to come back strong with all but one starter. Four returners earned all-conference awards, including top scorer Jordan Skarin with nine goals.
Other returning players to watch include sophomore Anna Hitterdahl and juniors Abbey Lamfers and Jordan Skarin.
With 15 incoming freshman, Head Coach Josh Pettit hopes to continue to build the team with a more underclassmen-dominant.
T-4. Bethany Lutheran College Vikings
2014 Overall Record: 8-12-1
2014 UMAC Record: 7-7
2014 UMAC Finish: T-3rd
Starters Returning: 6
Starters Lost: 5
The BLC Vikings look to return to the playoffs this year behind a balanced group of returners and new recruits. Last year the Vikings went 8-12-1, finished the UMAC campaign 7-7 and took the 3rd seed in the postseason tournament. This year’s team features 10 returning letter winners and 9 incoming recruits.
Leading the way offensively for the Vikings will be Sophomore Nicole Moldstad who led all UMAC freshman in scoring last year with 35 points. Joining Moldstad in the attack will be Bridget Hennen one of the UMAC's top scoring midfielders with 24 points last year and the 2013 leading scorer Taylor Friehl who returns to the Viking lineup after an early season injury that ended her 2014 campaign.
Defensively, an experienced group lead by juniors Lindsey Stewart, Rachael Melby and Abby Goss will give cover to returning sophomore goalkeeper Averi Cash.
T-4. University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets
2014 Overall Record: 3-13-2
2014 UMAC Record: N/A
2014 UMAC Finish: N/A
Starters Returning: 7
Starters Lost: 4
To say that the 2014 season was a season of change for the Yellowjacket women’s soccer program is an understatement. With the previous head coach resigning abruptly during the summer, her replacement, Morgan MacLean, didn’t take the reins to the program until the day before practice got underway. The ride was a bumpy one for MacLean and the Yellowjackets, as they closed the injury-plagued campaign 3-13-2.
With a full year to recruit, MacLean has brought in one of the largest recruiting classes in school history. The newcomers, combined with a solid group of returners, will give the Yellowjackets depth they haven’t had in years and unending optimism as they embark on their first season as members of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
Among the leaders is a pair of seniors – Shelby Coombs and Taylor Piechocki. Coombs finished last season second on the team in goals and points and earned the chance to represent the United States over the summer playing in Costa Rica. Meanwhile Piechocki, a defender, was one of just two Yellowjackets to start all 18 games a year ago and played the second-most minutes on the team. Also back for the Yellowjackets is sophomore goalkeeper Bailey Henderson, who played all but 96:35 in goal last season.
6. Martin Luther College Knights
2014 Overall Record: 8-10
2014 UMAC Record: 7-7
2014 UMAC Finish: T-3rd
Starters Returning: 9
Starters Lost: 2
The Martin Luther College women’s soccer team will look to return to the UMAC postseason tournament after missing out in 2014 despite a third-place tie in the final standings following an 8-10 season. MLC returns nine starters, including four players who received All-UMAC recognition last season.
Jenna Maurer returns for her junior season and once again figures to be one of the leaders on the attack. Maurer scored a team-best nine goals in 2014, and already ranks fifth in program history with 25 career goals in only two seasons to date. She will be joined up front by returners Hailey Johnson (six goals as a freshman in 2014) and Danielle Hall (two goals in limited action as a freshman in 2014), as well as veterans Sarah Couture, Abigail Koelpin, Emily Muir and Martha Balge.
The Knights will need to find a replacement for goalkeeper Keely Keese, but returns a lot of experience on defense. That defense starts with midfielder Alyssa Maertz, whose speed and tenacity led coaches to vote her First Team All-UMAC as a sophomore last season. Behind her, Rachel Naumann returns to lead a defense that also includes starters Sarah Melcher and Sarah Kell. Karis Naumann also returns to the team in 2015 after missing last season. She started 20 games on defense in 2013.
7. Northland College Lumberjills
2014 Overall Record: 11-9-1
2014 UMAC Record: 7-7
2014 UMAC Finish: T-3rd
Starters Returning: 6
Starters Lost: 5
Northland College Women’s Soccer will begin the 2015 season with new head coach Justin Sexton leading the LumberJills. The squad will have 13 returning players from the 2014 season, including 10 letter winners.
Among the returning letter winners is leading goal scorer Maddie Wieland who had 19 goals for the 2014 season. Wieland was named to the First Team All-UMAC team and earned a spot on the NSCAA All-North Region Third Team.
The incoming class features five new student-athletes from across the country. In addition, a pair of transfers join the mix from the start and look to have an immediate impact on the team.
8. Crown College Storm
2014 Overall Record: 5-14-1
2014 UMAC Record: 3-11
2014 UMAC Finish: 7th
Starters Returning: 5
Starters Lost: 6
Emily Kirby, Tiffany Krueger, and Susanna Pjecha look to step into leadership roles for the young Crown team and are ready to control the midfield this upcoming season. Aubrie Ades returns to anchor the back line with strong support from Terrin Boozikee and Monika Russel.
Coach Ross has brought in a solid freshman class to provide some depth for the returners. Among these new freshman is Katelyn Carter an All-City 2
nd Team award winner, Rochelle Perzel, a competitive attacker, and Andra Hiebert to fill the role of goal keeper. With the combination of these new players and the returners, Crown looks to improve their record and has the conference tournament in their sights.
9. North Central University Rams
2014 Overall Record: 3-14
2014 UMAC Record: 0-14
2014 UMAC Finish: 8th
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 7
North Central will have a solid core of returning players for first year head coach Andrew Cameron who was promoted to lead the Rams after five years as the assistant coach for NCU.
Despite returning a good group and gaining back some talent that was injured during 2014, many of the players who logged significant minutes a year ago have graduated. The Rams still have key contributors coming back including speedy midfielder Karlee Hoover who missed most of 2014 with an injury. Hoover will give NCU more dynamic midfield play that the team lacked a year ago. Midfielder and defender Becca Hammond is also returning as well and will help sure up the defense that will be missing graduated two time honorable mention all-UMAC defender Rachel Parsons.
In addition, North Central will have a solid group of incoming players that will mesh well with the returning roster. Forward Dakotah Sparrman, a transfer addition with NCAA Division I experience, is joining the Rams as one of the biggest recruits in recent program history. Sparrman averaged 30 minutes a game for Arkansas-Little Rock in 2013 with one goal and one assist. Kate Nygren (def.), Abbey Schwinden (mid), and Heather Campbell (GK) are new names that will give the Rams a firm foundation to build upon for the future on all parts of the field. Overall, the Rams have a good blend of old and new talent that should give them a chance to improve their competitive standing in UMAC play this year.