NateDawgUM
bored with recruiting talk
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Anybody else on here a Minnesota Soccer fan? We have some of the highest attendance in the nation but discussion seems to be lacking on here compared to volleyball.
Anyway, season kicks off tomorrow with a visit to South Bend to play #4 Notre Dame. Obviously a very tough opponent to start the season, but with the experience on this team it should be a good test.
I really like the make up of the team this year. They return all 11 starters plus most of their key reserves this year. Jennie Clark is on the "short list" for the Hermann Trophy (soccer's Heisman) and is probably the top defender in the conference. Throw in 4-year starter Kylie Kallman and 2-year starter Josie Solie and you have another solid back line, which seems to be Coach Denney-Wright's hallmark.
Cat Parkhill in goal has extensive experience for US National Youth squads and obviously is a championship level goalie. A year of experience with her back line should make scoring on Minnesota awfully tricky this year.
Other players of note include Molly Rouse, who has an off the charts fitness level and should be one of the top midfielders in the conference. Katie Bethke who played with the US u23 national team this summer in Europe and is the second-leading returning scorer in the Big Ten. Olivia Bagnall who had a fantastic freshman year in the midfield last year and is another iron woman in terms of fitness.
There is some intrigue in terms of the newcomers as well. Steph Brandt redshirted last year, but had a phenomenal spring, scoring in nearly every match. It'll be interesting to see how that translates into the fall season, but I would be very surprised if she isn't a big contributor.
Nicole Baier is a transfer from Division II Nebraska-Omaha where she was an All-American last year as a freshman with 16 goals and 11 assists. Always interesting to see how strong players react to moving up a level.
Mackenzie Misel was the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and should also be an immediate contributor in midfield.
If you've never made it to a game but enjoy soccer, try to make it to a match this year. They have a great facility and it's a nice family outing for those of you looking for something cheaper than Gopher Football or Basketball.
I guarantee they finish well better than the 6th place finish they were picked for by the Big Ten coaches.
Anyway, season kicks off tomorrow with a visit to South Bend to play #4 Notre Dame. Obviously a very tough opponent to start the season, but with the experience on this team it should be a good test.
I really like the make up of the team this year. They return all 11 starters plus most of their key reserves this year. Jennie Clark is on the "short list" for the Hermann Trophy (soccer's Heisman) and is probably the top defender in the conference. Throw in 4-year starter Kylie Kallman and 2-year starter Josie Solie and you have another solid back line, which seems to be Coach Denney-Wright's hallmark.
Cat Parkhill in goal has extensive experience for US National Youth squads and obviously is a championship level goalie. A year of experience with her back line should make scoring on Minnesota awfully tricky this year.
Other players of note include Molly Rouse, who has an off the charts fitness level and should be one of the top midfielders in the conference. Katie Bethke who played with the US u23 national team this summer in Europe and is the second-leading returning scorer in the Big Ten. Olivia Bagnall who had a fantastic freshman year in the midfield last year and is another iron woman in terms of fitness.
There is some intrigue in terms of the newcomers as well. Steph Brandt redshirted last year, but had a phenomenal spring, scoring in nearly every match. It'll be interesting to see how that translates into the fall season, but I would be very surprised if she isn't a big contributor.
Nicole Baier is a transfer from Division II Nebraska-Omaha where she was an All-American last year as a freshman with 16 goals and 11 assists. Always interesting to see how strong players react to moving up a level.
Mackenzie Misel was the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and should also be an immediate contributor in midfield.
If you've never made it to a game but enjoy soccer, try to make it to a match this year. They have a great facility and it's a nice family outing for those of you looking for something cheaper than Gopher Football or Basketball.
I guarantee they finish well better than the 6th place finish they were picked for by the Big Ten coaches.
