 Photo: Tommie Athletics Author: Matt Privratsky The St Thomas Tomcats headed west on 94 last weekend and split their games against their North Dakota foes. Now, they sit in second place in the Summit League standings with just five games to go in conference play. Let’s take a look at how the Tomcats have continued their frisky play this fall even as they take on tough conference opponents. Recent Results AT North Dakota State - Win 3-2 This one was about as much of a shootout as St Thomas has had this fall. NDSU opened the scoring super early, UST battled back to tie before halftime. NDSU again gets on the board early in the second half but UST quickly responds to pull even. Then, 20 minutes later the Tomcats pull ahead and don’t look back. Big games from Abby Brantner (two assists) and Anna Eckroth (one goal, one assist) help get them there. AT North Dakota - Lose 0-1 In a tale of two halves, North Dakota peppered the St Thomas defensive unit in the first 45 minutes, going ahead 1-0 thanks to an 11-3 shot advantage. Then, after halftime the Tomcats turned up the heat and pressed hard to their own 12-1 shot advantage but just couldn’t find the net, eventually leaving with a tough 1-0 loss – letting North Dakota pull even with them in a tie for second place in the Summit League halfway through conference play.  Who’s stepping up? Our coverage of St Thomas is always especially fun because Head Coach Sheila McGill is almost militantly a team-first zone. You can *sometimes* get her to say an individual name if you sneak up on her, but it’s rare. Meanwhile, Equal Time is an all hype zone. Yes, we like to spread the hype around – but we are always ready to hype up individual players nonetheless. So for this section, we are going to stress out Sheila and give some individual love to some top offensive performers on the Tomcats. First, some love for a veteran (which on this team means sophomore) Abby Brantner. The attacking unit for St Thomas is super broad, with a ton of folks seeing minutes in any given game. Each individual stint on the field can also be super short, with limited time to settle in and make an impact. That’s what makes Branter’s four-assist-campaign (tied for 4th most in the Summit League) so far this fall so impressive. One minute, Nguyen-Huber-Sanchez are out there doing their thing. The next minute, Brantner is bounding onto the field with her bouncy gait (running style) ready to add some energy in the attacking third. Next, shout out for the impact transfer Mariah Nguyen who has the fourth most total points (from 4g, 4a) and goals in the Summit League. The output is great. But the efficiency is what’s truly absurd. Nguyen has four goals on just 15 shots. Let’s put that in perspective. The leading scorer in the Summit League (Amy Andrews) has scored 7 goals on 52 shots. She scores on every 7.5 shots she takes essentially – she just takes roughly a shit load of them. Nguyen scores at TWICE that efficiency. Does that mean she could score twice as many goals if she also had the chance to take five shots a game? I mean…do we dare doubt her…? Either way, the offensive production is incredible for the impact transfer from Bemidji State. Path to the Top 6 As we mentioned in our previous St Thomas coverage, the Tomcats aren’t eligible for post season play while they continue their transition period from DIII to DI. But that doesn’t stop them from having a *very* strong desire to make the newly expanded Summit League Tournament field on paper. Their path to a Top 6 (previously the field was Top 4) finish will be tough. They have remaining games against top dogs South Dakota State and Denver, against pack the box Omaha, and against always up for a fight South Dakota and Western Illinois. They have a bit of a buffer to drop points by currently sitting in second place (and having some wiggle room down to sixth) but they’ll still need to pull off some results in their final five matches.  So far, in conference play, it’s fairly easy to predict what St Thomas will do overall. They will pass with around 65 percent accuracy. They will concede *a bit* of possession (typically possess about 45-50 percent). And their consistent use of long shots outside the box means their average chances are typically a bit farther out than their opponents. That’s led to a second stingiest defense amongst Summit League teams (though their five goals allowed in four conference games is raising that goals against average a bit) and the third best win margin – again, with their toughest tests yet to come. Their willingness to both take chances from distance and to get quickly into offensive chances on the run (vs slower passing and possession in their final third where you might “engineer” corners as things bog down) means they don’t produce a ton of corners (3rd fewest in the conference) but they also don’t give away set pieces to the other team readily either (3rd fewest fouls, least yellow cards). It’s not likely they’ll be able to be *more* stingy defensively as they start to face even more dangerous offensive attacks. But if they can largely maintain or not balloon those metrics (say, sticking vaguely around 1-2 goals allowed in conference) then their run and gun, press and go energy could give them a chance to stay in a shootout here and there. If they can get at least one win against either South Dakota or Western Illinois, and a draw or win against Omaha they likely cement their spot in the top six. And don’t count them out for a surprise result against the Summit’s top dogs (SDSU, Denver), either. They like how they showed against them last year and relish the chance to pull off a result in their second time around the Summit League loop.
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(Photo: Tommie Athletics)
Authors: Isa & Matt
In their first season as a DI program last fall, St Thomas didn’t sit back and park the bus. They played an attacking brand of soccer that was sure to cost them games but which may also pay dividends long-term. Now, as they wrap up their non-conference schedule in the second ever DI campaign, St Thomas looks battle tested and ready to give Summit League rivals legitimate headaches as a no-regrets spoiler (they are unable to qualify for conference tournament play while still in their probationary period). Here are some key takeaways from the Tommies 2022 season so far.
Key Players (Isa) Of course, as a spectator there’s the inevitable natural selection of your favorite players. I could be here all day to talk about every player I’ve watched contribute to this team, but I don’t think you (or I) have the attention span for that. (Maybe someday though… I’ll have to see). Camryn Rintoul has been nothing but an absolute joy to watch, and I’m grateful that I was able to tell her in the show (mainly) Matt and I hosted earlier this week (her segment is embedded below). Her absolute dominance inside the midfield is phenomenal, and watching her build confidence in both herself, and her play is just an amazing process to watch. Looking back to all the notes I’ve taken from previous games, Camryn was the first player I took notes on, and even caught my eye, which I think is pretty hilarious since my focus on her was basically foretold from the very beginning. During our talk, Camryn talked a little about coming into this season with more pressure and expectations on her shoulders because she both had a year already under her belt, and because she was now considered an upperclassman to her new freshman teammates. Knowing this, she’s stepped up, and (in my opinion) ultimately has shaped the way this team plays. Anywhere the ball is, Rintoul isn’t too far behind. It’s one of the reasons she continues to be one of my favorite players on this team. Furthermore, I think we genuinely just have to talk about Lissa Mizutani. She was one of the first players that caught my eye at the first game I went to go spectate, particularly because of the way she handles defending. She’s got amazing skill, but also has the potential to defend anything that comes her way. Not to mention the absolute leg she has got on her. In the Tommies most recent game against Wyoming, I posted a story with a video of the free kick she had taken from inside their final third. And let me tell you, it was absolutely astonishing. She launched that ball all the way past half into the box, almost as if the team was meant to treat it like a corner kick. I mean, c’mon who the hell else can do that?! But not only that, Mizutani (as a defender) can also contribute to the attack, which is something you don’t see as often as you think. One of my favorite things that I’ve seen from her, is her ability to see the field in its widest form. She’s the one who receives the ball in the back, listens to her midfield, and constantly switches the ball. I personally think it’s one of the best things about her style of play. Next on my list is Arianna Sanchez, or more infamously known as Chez to the rest of the team. One of the things Chez is most known for, is her speed on the wing. Arianna is probably one of the fastest players on this team, and when she can use it, you best believe she will. One thing that really stands out about her, is that she’s not afraid to take that risk. She never seems to be worried about wether or not she’ll win that 1v1 against that wing defender on the opposing team, but more so focused on if she can do it, and what she does if she wins or loses. If she wins, heck that’s great! She’ll keep going and shoot for goal. If she doesn’t, not a problem, she’ll track back and pick up after herself. Chez is also an amazing outlet and support for her center mids. There have been countless of situations where is seems to get sticky in the center mid, but Sanchez comes off her line and helps wherever she can, however she can. Arianna never fails to leave it all out on the field, and try her hardest whenever she sets foot on the grass (or turf), its what makes her unique and a great team player.
Now of course last (but certainly not least), I had to talk about our lovely Mariah Nyugen. I was so excited when I had heard about her transfer to St. Thomas. While I was working the Minnesota Aurora games, I got to watch her play every once in a while, but I never got to fully invest myself in analyzing her style of play until now. Mariah is one of the fiercest players I’ve ever seen. She could care less if you can see over the top of her head, what she wants, she’ll do her best to get. Being physical with players that are bigger than her has never stopped her, and that’s one of the things that makes her so entertaining to watch. Besides being physical, Mariah has one of the most creative minds I’ve ever seen. She can create, but she’s also ambitious enough to want to score her own goals. In their exhibition game vs. St. Cloud State, I remember seeing the corner kick of a lifetime. Watching Mariah put her head on that ball was perhaps one of the biggest things that made me so excited to continue covering St. Thomas (more than I was already). (Side Note: She also recognized me after a game and said hi to me. biggest. fangirl. moment. ever. I had never felt so famous. Plus, her dad is an amazing human being. He always says hi to me when I come to watch. GAH!) Rotation and subbing (Matt) When you look at the St Thomas rotation on paper via a random box score, it might appear they go a bit deeper than other teams into their bench – nothing too crazy. When you watch the team in person, you notice it’s much more unique than that. While most teams try to substitute players on and off with enough time for the squad to settle into a new rhythm, St Thomas is virtually always taking players on and off – giving the feel of the game a layer of chaos at almost every moment. Head Coach Sheila McGill has said (watch her discuss in the show below) that subbing strategy is to both allow maximum effort defensively and to give more players the chance to see the field. But those two reasons only speak to the amount of subs used. The timing and cadence of it is what’s truly unique. Next time you tune into the Tommies you won’t help but notice it. Trust us. Especially if you watch the game in person.
Playing on the front foot (Matt) In a college soccer landscape where it feels like maybe a third of all DI programs strategically sit back and hope for a low scoring result they can grit out, it continues to be refreshing to watch teams that throw forward and play on the front foot. Even when it means risking a counter attack or exposing the backline, teams that play to win (vs not to lose) are just more fun to watch. Coach Sheila McGill has said that she knew from the beginning that the team would never park the bus and sit back. Apart from it being a really boring style (for fans AND her) to watch and for the players to play, she also knew that if the vision for the Tommies in the long run was to be a highly competitive program then the growth to that point might as well start right away. Defender Audrey Vidmar (during her interview with us embedded below) described the style of play as requiring lots of focus and discipline from the whole team. With forwards pressing a bit higher, midfielders are required to follow suit or else they’ll create a gap between the forwards and mids that the opponent can exploit. And even if the midfielders shift up as unit with the attackers, the defense then has to follow suit in a coordinated and connected way. It’s the kind of style that can keep opponents on their feet and force them to never feel entirely comfortable – even if it risks being exposed yourself. The true test will be how the style holds up against the top dogs of the Summit League like South Dakota State and Denver. Our money is on St Thomas being able to succeed at it just enough to find a spot in the middle of the table – a huge accomplishment if they’re able to pull it off. Resilience and Grit (Matt) It’s easy to get a result when things are going well for you – when the team is clicking and you over power the opponent from the first whistle. It’s harder to right the ship when things, for whatever or however many reasons, just aren’t going your way. Two times, in particular, during non-conference play St Thomas lived through an opening stretch where they were getting dramatically outplayed – only to come away with key points. Against Idaho, the Tomcats were being out possessed to almost an absurd degree. Idaho looked as crisp to start the game as any team I’ve seen this fall. It looked like St Thomas was going to get blown out. Then, as they kept battling, the game just turned. After 15 minutes of composed, disciplined possession, Idaho fell back to earth and the teams played to a fairly even handed draw. On the road against Northern Iowa, St Thomas gave up 3-5 truly dangerous chances all within the first ten minutes or so. The Panthers of UNI were showing out for senior day and only through some brilliance from UST keeper Annie Bantner where the Tommies were able to keep things level at 0-0 through that stretch. And then, they brought the heat – winning 3-0 in a convincing and dominating performance.
No, Idaho and UNI aren’t big time, big name programs necessarily. No they aren’t making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. But if you watch college soccer consistently you know when games are going the wrong way. And it is not common – even when teams are fairly evenly matched – for a squad to turn the tide of a game that is going so strongly against them. It just isn’t. And when it happens, you should take note. Because that squad has some grit and resilience in their bag. Quick Stats Check (Matt) It’s hard to take too much away from early season stats, especially when teams have played such varying levels of schedules in terms of opponents. But here are three stats to keep an eye on heading into Summit League play.
Next up:
Matt and Isa sit down with Sheila McGill (1-15min), Camryn Rintoul (15-30 min), Audrey Vidmar (30-45 min) of St Thomas to talk about their improvement from year 1 to year 2, Rintoul turning into a offensive threat from distance, Vidmar coming home to the Capital City as an impact transfer, the glamorous paperwork of DI soccer, and who would survive a zombie apocalypse. You can watch the recorded LIVE version of the video show below or you can listen to it as a podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher. Show presented by Pentz Homes (pentzhomes.com)
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