Author: Emily Bunnell How I found my way onto summer teams goes back to Baylor University. In the fall of 2018, I was one of the first women’s soccer players to enter the new transfer portal. I remember the week the portal was supposed to go live, just itching to leave. I had to get out of Texas, out of the south. When I finally started my (first) transfer process, I took four official visits and a couple of weeks to figure out what was next. When I decided, I sat in my parents room crying. I had just got off the phone with Seattle University head coach Julie Woodward, telling her I had decided to go to Minnesota. I sent a text to Chris Wells, the assistant coach, thanking him for the visit as well. I would start my next journey at the University of Minnesota the following semester. During the spring, the Minnesota soccer team had a meeting about playing summer ball. When I was at Baylor, we were given strength and conditioning packets (and extremely tough ones) but there wasn’t a discussion around playing summer ball. Of course I was interested, any chance to get on a field and play is a chance I typically take. One opportunity came up in the meeting – a team called the Seattle Stars was looking for players. Players would be housed by host families and spend May-July training three days a week with games on the weekends. This sounded so cool to me. I have never lived in the Pacific Northwest or played for a summer team. This could be fun, and it might be healthy for me to take another crack at getting out of my comfort zone in Minnesota. I talked to my head coach at the time, and she shared with me more information on how to get in contact with the coach of the Stars, Chris Wells. When I heard that Chris was the head coach – already having an idea of the type of coach and person he was – instantly I was sold. I talked to my dad and he was all for it. Details were finalized and the day after my finals were completed, my dad and I began our 26 hour road trip to Seattle, WA. This summer, 2019, is one of my all time favorites – and it came at a time when I was struggling. I had just transferred to the Gophers for a spring season and was still recovering mentally and emotionally from what Baylor was. Getting away for the summer, I was able to focus on my mission, to get in peak shape physically, technically, and mentally for my first fall season as a Gopher. And I did just that. In terms of the soccer, I got exactly what I expected from playing with the Stars. I got fitter, my technical skills improved, and I was playing with confidence. What I didn’t expect was all the other benefits that the Stars provided me. The relationships I built that summer with teammates and my host family have stayed with me to this day. I went to Seattle not knowing anyone, and I left with new friends and some great mentors. I fell in love with a city I had never thought I would. And most importantly, I fell in love with soccer again. I didn’t realize how much fun I *wasn’t having* playing soccer until I started having fun again. Leaving Seattle, I was glowing from the inside out. As I left the city with my dad to go back home, it took just 20 minutes for him to turn to me and say “You know, it’s not too late to change your mind. We can figure out a way to make it work. You haven’t technically used any eligibility at Minnesota.” “No, I made a commitment. I have to go back.” To keep it simple, I did not enjoy my fall season with the Gophers. Going 3-12-4 wasn’t fun. Playing 89 minutes on the season was not fun. Watching two teammates tear their ACL was not fun. I was ready to be done with Minnesota. I didn’t fit in. But I knew I didn’t want to quit soccer. I kept my spark alive by remembering how much fun I can have playing – my time with the Stars in the forefront of my mind. On my 21st birthday, I had a meeting with the staff. I asked to enter the transfer portal, again. The next day I submitted all my paperwork to the NCAA and called Chris Wells. I knew exactly where I wanted to go. One problem. With NCAA regulations, I did have to graduate that spring, a year early, to be eligible to play at a third university. This meant I had to take 26 credits that spring and study abroad in Bali over J term (I couldn’t fit all the credits into a schedule, real bummer). I also had to get permission from the dean of my college to take that many classes by convincing him that I had a plan in place to succeed in the classroom. Where there is a will, there is a way! Then, of course, the Covid-19 lockdown hit halfway through the semester. Suddenly, school became a much different (and to be honest, easier) situation to handle. I did it, I got my bachelors in three years (with a 3.97 GPA). I was ready to get out to Seattle. Unfortunately summer ball was canceled that year, but I was just so excited to start my next chapter in soccer. The following summer, 2021, I could not play for Chris Wells. Due to NCAA rules I could not play for my college coach over the summer. I still wanted to stay in Seattle, because I was enjoying my time immensely in Washington, so I found the next best option for me in the Pacific Northwest (where opportunities and competition during summer ball was much stronger than I’d observed back home). With guidance from my coaches and teammates at Seattle U, I found myself playing for the PacNW WPSL soccer team. Again, I had so much fun. I began to develop a sense of belonging and connection within the soccer community in Seattle and ended up playing for PacNW the following summer as well. After graduating with my masters from Seattle U, I began looking to play professionally just as I had always dreamed. In the winter window, I struggled to connect with the right agent and then ultimately had to delay my process due to a minor injury. So, it was looking like it was time to find a summer team again! Of course I reached out to Chris Wells with his recommendations, especially now that I was allowed to play for his summer team again. In their first season in the USL-W, Chris Wells would be head coach of Oly Town FC. After getting cleared for contact by my physiotherapist April 28th, I was back on the field for summer ball with Oly Town in my first scrimmage May 9th. Again, I was looking forward to another great summer playing soccer in Seattle. This time, my intentions were to get game fit and to stay prepared for my number to be called for a professional team. Not only did I succeed in terms of that top line goal (getting THE call that a team in Portugal wanted me in June) but I was once again surrounded by amazing girls that I got to connect with and learn from. Many were still in college, but there were a handful that already had professional stints in the US and abroad. I found myself, and many other girls that had aspirations to play professionally, learning as much as we would from the veteran players. The good, the bad, the ugly of women’s professional soccer. I actually now get to play against one of my Oly Town teammates, Abby J of Torreense in Liga BPI! Summer ball has been a huge part of my soccer career. I feel incredibly lucky to have loved every team I have been a part of. It’s been a great opportunity to play with players you may never have played with before, play for different coaches and gain different perspectives into your game, and meet some pretty awesome people. It is less stressful than a collegiate season, so it is a great chance to gain confidence, try new things and grow both as a player and person. Summer ball can also be a unique way to live in a new part of the country. Most importantly, you go into a fall season game fit and ready to play which is one of the most important measures in preventing injury. I look back to that meeting in the spring of 2019 and cannot help but feel grateful I took a chance on moving across the country for a summer team. Want to support our work? You can start for as little as $2/month on Patreon!
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Mark Privratsky
The 2023 College season has finished and it's time to honor all of the D1 Minnesotans who stood out this year. With too many players (120+) to watch every game, we do our best to highlight stat leaders, squads that made the deepest NCAA Tournament runs, and all of the content we can create for you with the amazing Soccer talent from Minnesota. We've got 10 goal scorers (Kaitlyn Macbean) and 10 assist creators (Jessie Hunt), Maddie Ishaug of Wisconsin averaging 90 minutes a game, and standout keepers from East Coast to Midwest. We're also including a full archive of all 2023 D1 interviews from our YouTube page at the end so you don't miss any of your current stars from D1 MNs.
2023 MN Iron Woman: Maddie Ishaug - Wisconsin
In College Soccer's condensed season with unique substitution rules, it is not commonplace to average 90 minutes a game, like you may see with more defensive positioned pros. In fact, of the 120+ D1 Minnesotans, only one averaged 90 minutes a game: Maddie Ishaug of Wisconsin. 17 other players started every single game for their team as highlighted below, but just Ishaug hit the impressive 90 per game mark thanks to an overtime match with Rutgers filling the few substitution moments she had throughout the season. The Junior from Eden Prairie has played for MN Thunder and Slavo SC in Minnesota and helped lead Wisconsin to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament with a win over UW Milwaukee. Below are the 18 Minnesota players who started every game their team played (in team alphabetical order), with Brisha Musungu and Clara Broecker closest to Maddie Ishaug's total
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2023 MN D1 Goal Leaders Penn State - Kaitlyn MacBean - 10 goals, 6 assists UNI - Olivia Knoepfle - 9 goals, 6 assists UNI - Lauren Heinsch - 7 goals, 4 assists Northeastern - Jessie Hunt - 6 goals, 10 assists Drake - Angela Gutierrez - 6 goals, 5 assists Minnesota - Sophia Boman - 5 goals, 5 assists SDSU - Katelyn Beulke - 5 goals, 2 assists SDSU - Maya Hansen - 5 goals, 1 assist St Thomas - Mariah Nguyen - 5 goals, 2 assists Northeastern - Lauren Ahles - 5 goals, 1 assist UW Milwaukee - Clara Broecker - 4 goals, 4 assists |
2023 MN Assist Champ: Jessie Hunt - Northeastern
2023 MN D1 Assist Leaders Northeastern - Jessie Hunt - 6 goals, 10 assists (10th in NCAA) 2 time all CAA Penn State - Kaitlyn MacBean - 10 goals, 6 assists UNI - UNI - Olivia Knoepfle - 9 goals, 6 assists Drake - Angela Gutierrez - 6 goals, 5 assists Minnesota - Sophia Boman - 5 goals, 5 assists South Dakota - Izzy Quintavalle - 1 goal, 5 assists UW Milwaukee - Clara Broecker - 4 goals, 4 assists |
2023 Standout MN Keeper: Clare Gagne - Brown
Jocelyn Tanner - .1.08 GAA, 53 Saves, 6 shutouts, 1700 minutes in 20 games
Minnesota - Megan Plaschko - .96 GAA, 47 Saves, 1506 minutes in 17 starts
Payton Cahill - 0.63 GAA, 9 saves, 4 shutouts, 720 minutes in 8 games
NCAA Tournament Runs
Quarterfinalists:
Penn State (Kaitlyn MacBean) lost to Clemson in the Elite 8 after wins vs Cent Conn State, Santa Clara and Saint Louis
North Carolina (Maddie Dahlien) lost to BYU in the Elite 8 after wins over Towson, Alabama and Texas Tech
Nebraska (Lauren Buzzell) lost to Stanford after wins vs South Dakota State, Tennessee and UC Irvine
2nd Round:
Brown (Clare Gagne) lost to Mississippi State after a win vs Quinnipiac
Wisconsin (Maddie Ishaug, Kenzie Jacobson, Dara Andringa, Maddie Poor) lost to Texas after a win over UW Milwaukee
2023 Player Stats
Kassandra Schoen - 4 goals, 682 minutes in 17 games
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Brisha Musungu - 4 goals, 1 assist, 1650 minutes in 20 games*
Army
Jordan Hecht - DNP
Hannah Pohlidal - 6 minutes in 1 game
Auburn
Maddie Lo - 0.00 GAA, 33 minutes played in 2 games
Austin Peay
Hannah Zahn - 1 goal, 1358 minutes in 20 games
Boston College
Andi Barth - 1 assist, 630 minutes in 11 games
Brown
Clare Gagne - .64 GAA, 42 saves, 7 shutouts in 16 games
Denver
Shay Payne - DNP
Megan Prazich - 1627 minutes in 18 games
Drake
Brooke Davies - 1 assist, 525 minutes in 20 games
Delaney Goertzen - 620 minutes in 13 games
Angela Gutierrez - 6 goals, 5 assists, 1053 minutes in 18 games
Florida Atlantic
Mia Sennes - 1 assist, 454 minutes in 11 games
Idaho State
Sienna Latta - 1 goal, 416 minutes in 16 games
Illinois State
Katharine Ashley - 1341 minutes in 16 games*
Erica Moline - 1 goal, 349 minutes in 12 games
Kansas State
Porter List - 2 assists, 685 minutes in 18 games
Rilyn Rintoul - 555 minutes in 13 games
Kent State
Luca Ralph - 576 minutes in 21 games
Lipscomb
Lydia Hindt - 2 goals, 2 assists, 1086 minutes in 20 games
Long Beach State
Katarina Decaroli - 48 minutes, 5.66 GAA in 2 games
Loyola Chicago
Amanda Cassidy - 2 goals, 2 assists, 1504 minutes in 18 games
Jordan Pascarella - 277 minutes in 5 games
Marquette
Chloe Olson - 1.54 GAA, 7 saves, 233 minutes in 3 games
Abby Ruhland - DNP
Minnesota
Sophia Barjesth - 335 minutes in 10 games
Alma Beaton - 15 minutes in 2 games
Sophia Boman - 5 goals, 5 assists, 1475 minutes in 17 games*
Grace Fogarty - DNP
Abi Frandsen - 1 goal, 1167 minutes in 14 games
Khyah Harper - 1 goal, 4 assists, 747 minutes in 16 games
Sadie Harper - 1 goal, 430 minutes in 14 games
Taylor Heimerl - 1 assist, 488 minutes in 12 games
Paige Kalal - 1 goal, 2 assists, 840 minutes in 17 games
Sarah Martin - DNO
Megan Plaschko - .96 GAA, 47 Saves, 1506 minutes in 17 starts*
Maddy Raymond - 15 minutes in 2 games
Maddie Shannon - DNP
Kendall Stadden - 15 minutes in 2 games
Jelena Zbiljic - 586 minutes in 12 games
Navy
Emma Frommelt - 1 goal, 1 assist, 217 minutes in 8 games
Nebraska
Lauren Buzzell - DNP
North Carolina
Maddie Dahlien - 1 goal, 3 assists, 662 minutes in 21 games
North Carolina-Ashville
Ava Bjorkman-Tracy - 1 assist, 1185 minutes in 17 games
North Dakota
Katie Alto - 5 min in 1 game
Sydney Bakritzes - DNP
Jessica Machovec - 21 minutes in 3 games
Avery Toms - 401 minutes in 17 games
NDSU
Paige Goaley - 3 goals, 2 assists, 1012 minutes in 17 games
Madalyn Grate - 2 assists, 270 minutes in 11 games
Jess Hanley - 1 goal, 2 assists,966 minutes in 13 games
Kaitlyn Hanson - 752 minutes in 12 games
Kelsey Kallio - 2 goals, 3 assists, 782 minutes in 17 games
Olivia Lovick - 811 minutes in 16 games
Maddie Majewski - 47 minutes in 3 games
Izzy Smith - DNP
Ave Stanchina - 1 goal, 1 assist, 582 minutes in 17 games
Mckenna Strand - 1 assist, 783 minutes in 14 games
Loretta Wacek - 1 goal, 1 assist, 594 minutes in 13 games
Olivia Watson - 4 goals, 2 assists, 1162 minutes in 16 games
Northeastern
Lauren Ahles - 5 goals, 1 assist, 743 minutes in 18 games
Jessie Hunt - 6 goals, 10 assists, 1426 minutes in 18 games*
Northern Illinois University
Jordyn Saddler - DNP
Northern Iowa
Morgan Barnette - 2 goals, 624 minutes in 19 games
Olivia Bohl - 1 goal, 2 assists, 1459 minutes in 19 games
Lauren Heinsch - 7 goals, 4 assists, 1242 minutes in 19 games*
Olivia Knoepfle - 9 goals, 6 assists, 1074 minutes in 19 games*
Jenna Nyblom - 20 minutes in 2 games
Northwestern
Ramira Ambrose - 33 minutes in 4 games
Sydney Panek - 4 minutes in 1 game
Notre Dame
Paige Peltier - 118 minutes in 7 games
Omaha
Grace Bartlam - 1 assist, 442 minutes in 15 games
Lindsey Birch - 500 minutes in 18 games
Oregon State
Anna Wagner - 81 minutes in 5 games
Penn State
Kaitlyn MacBean - 10 goals, 6 assists, 1570 minutes in 23 games
Seton Hall
Ella Conger - 49 minutes in 4 games
South Dakota State
Kayla Anderson -3 goals, 2 assists, 1022 minutes in 20 games
Katelyn Beulke - 5 goals, 2 assists, 923 minutes in 20 games
Lauren Eckerle - 1 assist, 783 minutes in 10 games
Ava Grate - DNP
Maya Hansen - 5 goals, 1 assist, 376 minutes in 7 games
Katherine Jones - 3 goals, 3 assists, 1508 minutes in 20 games*
Emma Knack - 0.64 GAA, 2 saves, 140 minutes in 4 games
Jocelyn Tanner - .1.08 GAA, 53 Saves, 6 shutouts, 1700 minutes in 20 games
South Dakota
Brooklyn Bordson - 2 assists, 1060 minutes in 18 games*
Izzy Quintavalle - 1 goal, 5 assists, 1096 minutes in 18 games*
Southern Illinois
Madeline Hobbs - 17 minutes in 3 games
SIU-Edwardsville
Mary Fetter - 1 goal, 890 minutes in 17 games
St Thomas
Abby Brantner - 2 goals, 1257 minutes in 15 games*
Ella Bryant - 178 minutes in 9 games
Sofia Caballero - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1068 minutes in 14 games
Annika Eckroth - 44 minutes in 1 game
Emma Fournier - 1 goal, 514 minutes in 15 games
CJ Fredkove - 1 goal, 206 minutes in 10 games
Jasmine Gates - 1 goal, 3 assists, 542 minutes in 10 games
Olivia Graupmann - 0.00 GAA, 0 Saves, 24 minutes in 2 games
Abby Hoiska - 1 goal, 1 assist, 338 minutes in 14 games
Lexi Huber - 2 goals, 2 assists, 840 minutes in 15 games
Cedar Jorgenson - 234 minutes in 10 games
Molly Knoblauch - 1 goal, 905 minutes in 15 games*
Anna Koepke - 159 minutes in 6 games
Sydney Kubes - 446 minutes in 10 games
McKenna Lehman - 96 minutes in 9 games
Bella Meier - 305 minutes in 11 games
Lissa Mizutani - 1 goal, 1038 minutes in 15 games
Mariah Nguyen - 5 goals, 2 assists, 987 minutes in 15 games*
Kendall Quall - 1269 minutes in 15 games*
Camryn Rintoul - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1180 minutes in 15 games*
Olivia Rowe - 1.49 GAA, 71 saves, 1325 minutes in 15 games*
Tatum Trettel - 126 minutes in 8 games
Stetson University
Alexis Smith - 767 minutes in 17 games
University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley
Ana Recarte-Pacheco - 2 goals, 1 assist, 599 minutes in 9 games
Utah Tech
Madison Monson - 64 minutes in 5 games
Wake Forest
Payton Cahill - 0.63 GAA, 9 saves, 4 shutouts, 720 minutes in 8 games
Western Illinois
Emmy Ellington - 1428 minutes in 16 games*
Rita Moran - 1 assist, 1200 minutes in 16 games
Wisconsin
Dara Adringa - 447 minutes in 19 games
Maddie Ishaug - 1 goal, 3 assists, 2070 minutes in 23 games
Kenzie Jacobson - 1 assist, 122 minutes in 12 games
Maddie Poor - 233 minutes in 10 games
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Clara Broecker - 4 goals, 4 assists, 1639 minutes in 19 games*
Alyssa Marceau - 21 minutes in 2 games
FULL EQUAL TIME ARCHIVE
The 2023 NCAA Tournament kicks off this weekend across the country. The season started with over 120 Minnesotan players in Division 1, and 19 Minnesotans still have a chance to be Champions. The inner circle that chooses matchups gave us great intra Minnesotan matchups that both ensure some of our players will go home early, but also guarantee some players to move into at least round 2. Nebraska plays South Dakota State and UW Milwaukee plays Wisconsin on Friday, Nov 10 in the matchups that encompass most of our local players. The MN featured squads with the best chances to move on are seeded squads #3 UNC (Maddie Dahlien), #2 Penn State (Kaitlyn MacBean), #4 Wisconsin (Daria Andringa, Maddie Ishaug, Ali Fine, Maddie Poor, Kenzie Jacobson), and #3 Brown (Clare Gagne). The 2023 NCAA Tournament is on ESPN+, so grab a quick month subscription if you aren't already subscribed! We will be watching, posting content and potentially hosting watch parties at the Blackhart of St Paul as the Tournament moves forward!
NCAA FIRST ROUND
UW Milwaukee v #4 Wisconsin Fri, Nov 10 Kickoff: 7pm MN Players: UW Milwaukee: Defender Clara Broecker (4g, 4a, 1549 minutes in 18 games), Forward Alyssa Marceau (21 minutes in 2 games) Wisconsin: Midfielder Dara Adringa (301 minutes in 17 games), Midfielder Maddie Ishaug (2a, 1890 minutes in 21 games), Mid/Fwd Ali Fine, Midfielder Maddie Poor (221 minutes in 9 games), Forward Kenzie Jacobson (1a, 122 minutes in 12 games) |
South Dakota State v #5 Nebraska Fri, Nov 10 Kickoff: 7:05 pm MN Players: South Dakota State: GK Emma Knack (141 minutes, .64 GAA, .667 SV%), Def Ava Grate, Mid Lauren Eckerle (1a, 783 minutes 10), Fwd Katelyn Beulke (5g, 2a 857 minutes in 19 games), Fwd Kayla Anderson (3g, 2a, 975 minutes in 19 games, Fwd Maya Hansen (5g, 1a, 376 minutes in 7 games), Mid Katherine Jones (3g, 3a, 1418 minutes in 19 games), GK Jocelyn Tanner (.86 GAA, .766 SV%, 1570 minutes in 19 games Nebraska: Def Lauren Buzzell |
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