Matt Privratsky

The Gophers and Toms have now played the bulk of their non-conference slate and we’re starting to see more and more of who these squads are in 2023. Before I head out on the road to cover their games in person (St Thomas at Drake Thursday, Minnesota at Creighton Friday), let’s go over a few trends to note for Minnesota’s Division I women’s soccer programs following their first ever regular season matchup.

Wins to Ties, Ties to Losses
​As much as I praised the Gophers hard fought tie on the road against a top SEC foe in #22 Georgia, Minnesota saw it as a game they really could have won. When I chatted with freshman standout Kate Childers before her video interview after their 5-0 win over St Thomas, the first thing she (and Head Coach Erin Chastain) mentioned about the Georgia game was that they have to aim for more. 

And though a tie against a top team will certainly be valuable for Minnesota in building a post season resume, the result does fit into a trend we've mentioned before: letting wins turn into ties and letting possible ties (or wins) turn into losses. When you look back at your season, it's not about rewriting the entire thing into a fairy tail. It's about those small moments that, either due to bad luck or lack of focus or whatever, turned a hard fought tie or win into a loss (St Thomas vs UNI in their opener, Minnesota at UW Milwaukee) or a really hard fought possible win into a tie (MN at Georgia). 

As we approach conference play and the games get even tougher, the margins between those results may only tighten, and the impact of them may only grow. ​

Keeper Play
If you weren't able to watch the Gophers play at Georgia or St Thomas play at the Gophers, I'd strongly encourage you to at least scroll through their live tweet feeds linked above. Because even with wildly different score lines, they both contained some really fantastic individual goalkeeping moments from Megan Plaschko (against Georgia) and Olivia Rowe (against the Gophers). 

You might be reading this and thinking: "Matt, the Toms lost 5-0. How in the hell are you going to specifically praise their goalkeeping?!" But if you watch the whole game, you know that Rowe's confidence and quickness off the line and her tactical punch game kept St Thomas in that game far more than they would have been otherwise (reminder that the game was 1-0 until the 75th minute, basically). 

And while the entire Gophers defensive unit played out of their minds in order to keep Georgia scoreless, Plaschko in particular was just spectacular. As it turns out, really good keeper play is a total blast to watch. 

Scoring Extremes
The fall of 2023 is apparently the era of scoring extremes. We're either living through scoreless and one goal games or we're fully opening up the floodgates with 4, 5, 7 goals pouring in!

But if you only look at the scoresheet after the fact, it can be easy to forget just how differently the run of play and the flow of the game can be from one match to the next. Teams that sit with an incredibly tight defensive shape and build up a nation-leading shutout streak might get a little too confident and throw numbers forward, allowing a ton of goals after not giving up any (Indiana against MN last year). A playing surface, field size, and defensive shape might mean a team can completely slog things down at home much better than on the road (many examples). 

But one thing continues to hold true, getting that first goal is still unbelievably valuable for these squads. Not only does it help give you confidence in your individual abilities and team game plan, it forces the other team to take at least a bit more risk getting forward -- opening up even more space for you on the counter and in the attack. 

Training & Recovery Time
As I very regularly remind our readers, viewers, listeners, etc: the college soccer season is an absolute grind. You're usually playing two games a weekend. Sometimes you only have a single day off in between those games. Sometimes you're traveling on the off days and the recovery and rest value is minimized. Sometimes you're traveling for *both* games. In short: it can suck. 

​This particular stretch of the combined calendar for the Gophers and Toms is uniquely "restful". Over the next three weekends, the two programs play a combined 7 matches during a stretch that could typically have as many as 12. I might not have noticed this trend so specifically if not for the formatting of my own internal google sheet (forgive the screen grab image below) and the oceans of white space that jumps out. 

What I'll be tracking is: do the teams seem to tighten up some areas for improvement (corner kick execution for Minnesota for example) due to the extra training time and do the teams seem to have just a bit more pep in their step due to a little extra recovery time between matches?

Help Us Spread the Word!
This week, I'll be on the road covering St Thomas at Drake and Minnesota at Creighton. This kind of trip is only possible because of the support of our Patrons (patreon.com/equaltimesoccer) and our partners Pentz Homes (pentzhomes.com) and Modist Brewing (https://modistbrewing.com/). 

But even if you aren't quite ready to jump in with financial support, we always appreciate if you can help spread the word on social media and let folks know about our Minnesota women's soccer coverage. And, as always, feel free to reach out with any suggestions, questions, or ideas you have for us!

​- Matt

We are 3 weeks into the 2023 D1 season and theres an easy trend, first year players showing out from the jump. This week we're going to focus on highlighting thirteen (13!) Minnesotans who are playing big roles for their respective teams as freshmen, including a trio at St Thomas and a duo at the U of M. Even though teams have some uneven non conference slates, we have to mention Brisha Musungu and the Nation's leading scoring team (goals per game), Arkansas Pine Bluff. Lastly, we'll check in on the 5 Minnesotans in the Top #25, recap all 120 (and growing) player's stats and give you the easy games to watch this weekend! 

It's hard to get minutes as a Freshman at the D1 level, period. However, the early part of 2023 is looking to break that trend. The Gophers are playing Taylor Heimerl and Paige Kalal in every game, and they're producing goals. We'll have on the ground coverage of the Gophers at Creighton this Friday (4pm, Flo TV) on Equal Time socials. At Kansas State, Rilyn Rintoul has featured regularly (226 mins in 5 games), as have Angela Gutierrez at Drake (1g, 2a) and Ava Stanchina at NDSU (1g,1a).  At Northern Iowa, Olivia Bohl has played almost every minute on a competitive team and snagged an assist. Two players stand out for getting first year minutes at South Dakota State, an NCAA Tournament team from last year. Emma Knack impressively split the first 3 games with Veteran Jocelyn Tanner and didn't miss a beat. Having a Senior like Tanner as the likely #1 going forward can only help Knack develop as she fights to get minutes this year and going forward. Another Jackrabbit snagging minutes early is Katelyn Beulke, who has an assist and played in each game so far this year. 

St Thomas picked up where they left off in their inaugural D1 season last year, snagging some early wins and reloading with Minnesotan talent. With wins over Niagara and Portland State, a draw at Western Oregon and a close lost vs Northern Iowa, the Tommies will hope to sneak a result at Drake or Marquette in the last two weeks before Summit League play begins September 21. In a young program, it perhaps isn't surprising to see recruits get a shot at game time right away, but you'd still be impressed at Head Coach Sheila McGill's ability to integrate her class so quickly. Kendall Quall has played the most, playing a majority of the 5 games so far, while Cedar Jorgenson, Bella Meier and Abby Hoiska (1g,1g) have featured with quality minutes in the non conference. 

Non conference schedules for smaller college teams can have big swings! You may end up with a team or two from a division below you that require googling ("Tougaloo" or "Lyon- no not that one"), or a much bigger soccer program like Oklahoma. All the Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff can do is go out and compete, and that they did. They are currently 3-1-2, with THIRTY goals in their 6 games, leading the nation is goals per game heading into the 4th week of the season. Right at the center is Andover native Brisha Musungu, who has 2 goals and an assist to start her Junior season. Musungu started 30 games in her first two years and will play a big role in helping the Lions compete in the SWAC this year. 

​Just like early season stats, early season polls can be misleading and potentially avoided by coaches to keep a team on track. We aren't coaches and we like banter so let's look at "not so surprising" list of squads with Minnesotans on them in the recent United Soccer Coaches poll. 

The blue blood standouts from last year are again making their games known. At UNC, Maddie Dahlien is back on the field from a slight injury and a summer where she played for the US U-20 National Team. Meanwhile, Kaitlyn MacBean is standing out at Penn State with 2 goals (in two close wins) early in the year. In her redshirt Junior year, she is starting games for the first time, playing more minutes, and looks to be a force this year for the Nittany Lions. 

Alabama State
Kassandra Schoen - 2 goals, 253 minutes in 6 games
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Brisha Musungu - 2 goals, 1 assist, 446 minutes in 7 games
 
Army
Hannah Pohlidal - DNP

Auburn
Maddie Lo - 0.00 GAA, 33 minutes played in 2 games
 
Austin Peay
Hannah Zahn - 370 minutes in 7 games
 
Boston College
Andi Barth - 1 assist, 359 minutes in 7 games
 
Brown
Clare Gagne - .4 GAA, 4 saves, 225 minutes in 3 games
 
Denver
Shay Payne - DNP
Megan Prazich - 528 minutes in 7 games
​
Drake
Brooke Davies - 141 minutes in 5 games
Delaney Goertzen - 169 minutes in 5 games
Angela Gutierrez - 1 goal, 2 assists, 187 minutes in 3 games
 
​Florida Atlantic
Mia Sennes - DNP
 
Illinois State
Katharine Ashley - 268 minutes in 4 games
Erica Moline - DNP

Kansas State
Rilyn Rintoul - 226 minutes in 5 games

Kent State
Luca Ralph - 178 minutes in 7 games
 
Lipscomb
Lydia Hindt - 1 assist, 177 minutes in 6 games
 
Long Beach State
Katarina Decaroli - 3 minutes, 2 goals against in 1 game
 
Loyola Chicago
Amanda Cassidy - 1 goal, 434 minutes in 6 games
Jordan Pascarella - 267 minutes in 4 games
 
Marquette
Chloe Olson - 2.00 GAA, 3 saves, 90 minutes in 1 game
Abby Ruhland - DNP
 
​Minnesota
Sophia Barjesth - 134 minutes in 4 games
Alma Beaton - 17 minutes in 2 games
Sophia Boman - 5 goals, 2 assists, 484 minutes in 6 games
Grace Fogarty - DNP
Abi Frandsen - 1 goal, 492 minutes in 6 games
Khyah Harper - 2 assists, 169 minutes in 5 games
Sadie Harper - 157 minutes in 4 games
Taylor Heimerl - 1 assist, 243 minutes in 6 games
Paige Kalal - 1 goal, 1 assist, 295 minutes in 6 games
Sarah Martin - DNO
Megan Plaschko - .35 GAA, 12 saves, 517 minutes in 6 games
Maddy Raymond - 15 minutes in 2 games
Maddie Shannon - DNP
Kendall Stadden - 16 minutes in 2 games
Jelena Zbiljic - 297 minutes in 6 games
​
Navy
Emma Frommelt - 23 minutes in 4 games
 
Nebraska
Lauren Buzzell - DNP
 
North Carolina 
Maddie Dahlien - 112 minutes in 4 games
 
North Carolina-Ashville
Ava Bjorkman-Tracy - 1 assist, 337 minutes in 5 games
 
North Dakota
Katie Alto - DNP
Sydney Bakritzes - DNP
Jessica Machovec - DNP
Avery Toms - 125 minutes in 5 games

NDSU
Paige Goaley - 1 assist, 337 minutes in 6 games
Madalyn Grate - 100 minutes in 5 games
Jess Hanley - 1 goal, 430 minutes in 5 games
Kaitlyn Hanson - 56 minutes in 2 games
Kelsey Kallio - 2 assists, 320 minutes is 6 games
Olivia Lovick - 356 minutes in 6 games
Maddie Majewski -47 minutes in 3 games
Izzy Smith - DNP
Ave Stanchina - 1 goal, 1 assist, 147 minutes in 6 games
Mckenna Strand - 326 minutes in 6 games
Loretta Wacek - 1 goal, 1 assist, 285 minutes in 6 games
Olivia Watson - 1 goal, 426 minutes in 6 games

Northeastern
Lauren Ahles - 167 minutes in 5 games
Jessie Hunt - 4 assists, 376 minutes in 5 games
 
Northern Illinois University
Jordyn Saddler - DNP
 
Northern Iowa
Morgan Barnette - 2 goals, 187 minutes in 6 games
Olivia Bohl - 1 assist, 450 minutes in 6 games 
Lauren Heinsch - 3 goals, 1 assist, 367 minutes in 6 games
Olivia Knoepfle - 1 goal, 2 assists, 312 minutes in 6 games
Jenna Nyblom - 20 minutes in 2 games
 
Northwestern
Ramira Ambrose - 29 minutes in 3 games
Sydney Panek - 4 minutes in 1 game
 
Notre Dame
Paige Peltier - 55 minutes in 4 games
 
Omaha
Lindsey Birch - 243 minutes in 6 games
 
Oregon State
Anna Wagner - 52 minutes in 2 games
 
​Penn State
Kaitlyn MacBean - 2 goals, 289 minutes in 6 games
 
Seton Hall
Ella Conger - 29 minutes in 3 games
 
South Dakota State
Kayla Anderson - 1 goal, 248 minutes in 6 games
Katelyn Beulke - 1 assist, 106 minutes in 6 games
Lauren Eckerle - 1 assist, 479 minutes in 6 games
Ava Grate - DNP
Maya Hansen - 5 goals, 1 assist, 365 minutes in 6 games
Katherine Jones - 2 goals, 1 assist, 360 minutes in 6 games
Emma Knack - 0.67 GAA, 2 Saves, 135 minutes in 3 games
Jocelyn Tanner - 1.11 GAA, 13 Saves, 405 minutes in 6 games
 
South Dakota
Brooklyn Bordson - 355 minutes in 6 games
Izzy Quintavalle - 1 goal, 3 assists, 341 minutes in 6 games
 
SIU-Edwardsville
Mary Fetter - 1 goal, 182 minutes in 6 games
 
St Thomas
Abby Brantner - 2 goals, 374 minutes in 5 games
Ella Bryant - 69 minutes in 4 games
Sofia Caballero - 1 assist, 345 minutes in 5 games
Annika Eckroth - 44 minutes in 1 game
Emma Fournier - 1 goal, 153 minutes in 5 games
CJ Fredkove - 1 goal, 52 minutes in 2 games
Jasmine Gates - 2 assists, 249 minutes in 5 games
Olivia Graupmann - 0.00 GAA, 0 Saves, 18 minutes in 1 game
Abby Hoiska - 1 goal, 1 assist, 105 minutes in 4 games
Lexi Huber - 2 goals, 1 assist, 163 minutes in 5 games
Cedar Jorgenson - 156 minutes in 5 games
Molly Knoblauch - 272 minutes in 5 games
Anna Koepke - 77 minutes in games
Sydney Kubes - 136 minutes in 4 games
McKenna Lehman - 26 minutes in 2 games
Bella Meier - 116 minutes in 4 games
Lissa Mizutani - 1 goal, 272 minutes in 5 games
Mariah Nguyen - 3 goals, 274 minutes in 5 games
Kendall Quall - 369 minutes in 5 games
Camryn Rintoul - 1 goal, 389 minutes in 5 games
Olivia Rowe - 1.25 GAA, 28 saves, 433 minutes in 5 games
Tatum Trettel - 10 minutes in 1 game
 
Stetson University
Alexis Smith - 245 minutes in 6 games
 
University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley
Ana Recarte-Pacheco - 1 goal, 412 minutes in 5 games
 
Utah Tech 
Madison Monson - 23 minutes in 1 game
 
Wake Forest
Payton Cahill - DNP
 
Western Illinois 
Emmy Ellington - 449 minutes in 5 games
Rita Moran - 332 minutes in 5 games
 
Wisconsin
Dara Adringa - 60 minutes in 6 games
Maddie Ishaug - 529 minutes in 6 games
Kenzie Jacobson - 76 minutes in 5 games
Maddie Poor - 17 minutes in 2 games

Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Clara Broecker -2 goals, 1 assist, 535 minutes in 6 games
Alyssa Marceau - DNP

Mark Privratsky sits down with Minnesotan Jessie Hunt about her epic assist totals, being able to get individual stats while also winning as a team, Northeastern's rivals, her experience at MN Thunder Academy during her club years, her time with Salvo in the WPSL, and more!

You can watch the 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)