This year’s Women’s Soccer team has returned with a vengeance, winning four out of their five preseason games. These women have high expectations for their future season. Despite the loss of last year’s leading scorer, these girls have prevailed and come together as a team, thus forming a unique chemistry amongst themselves both on and off the field.

With Head Coach Mike Stehlik entering his 20th season with the Gusties, the team felt fully prepared going into its first Conference game versus Carleton College on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Junior goalkeeper Chelsea Bayer felt that the past five games have helped prepare her for the game on Wednesday, especially the game against Whitworth University. “[Whitworth] was probably the toughest team we will face all year, and to hold our own against a nationally ranked team like that is a huge accomplishment for us,” Bayer said.

Senior midfielder Becca Hagen and Senior Captain Kirsten Thulien both agreed that the team felt challenged against Whitworth. However, after the game they felt accomplished because the team, as a whole, stepped up and played to the best of their ability.

Some of the players’ best moments so far this season came this past weekend when they played in Iowa against Central College and Simpson College. The women really seemed to click on the field, making plays, setting up combinations in front of the net and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

“We have one of the best soccer teams Gustavus has had in a long time, and we really show when we take advantage of scoring opportunities, like we did this weekend in Iowa,” Thulien said.

However, there is never success without challenges along the way. Hagen and Thulien both agreed that balancing school and soccer will be the biggest challenge they will face this year. Coach Stehlik addressed the issue: “There will always be obstacles on a team, which is why you take each day as it comes and think of the season as a journey through the year.” Stehlik went on to say that the experience and leadership of the upperclassmen has been helpful to the first-years and sophomores through this time of transition.

Although the Women’s Soccer team has not changed much in terms of strength compared to last year, they have changed in terms of numbers. This year there is not a reserves team anymore—the coaching staff consolidated the program to just a varsity team. The women on the team had varied reactions to the consolidation; however, they all seemed to agree that the change was necessary and that having one team has brought them closer together.

The only major difference between this year’s and last year’s team is there are no standout players on the field. Coach Stehlik, along with Bayer, Thulien and Hagen, unanimously agreed on the subject.

“There are no stand-out players. Everyone puts in their best effort on the field. The team is there to support each other; therefore, the team stands out,” Stehlik said.

Experience from the upperclassmen has helped make up for losing the team’s standout players from last year. “Having the experience of juniors and seniors on the team has helped make up for lost players; however, the [first-years] and sophomores are just as capable of holding their own out on the field as any other upperclassmen,” Bayer said.

While the women’s expectations for the future of this season are high, Coach Stehlik responded in a more level-headed way. “The season just started. We haven’t even played our first Conference game yet. The final four and the MIAC playoffs would be nice; however, let’s take things one game at a time. Right now our focus is on Carleton this Wednesday and then we’ll go from there.”

According to Coach Stehlik, the team looked prepared for the Carleton game. “I have high expectations for Wednesday’s game. Everyone is healthy, we’ve had good performances so far and we’re a sharp team. We’ll play our best, and that’s all I can ask for,” Stehlik said.

Judging by how the preseason went, the rest of the season looks promising. “With five games and four wins under our belt, I hope to carry that over into Wednesday’s game and on into the rest of our conference games,” Hagen said.

The women want to finish out their season better than last year and accomplish their goal of reaching the final four in the MIAC division. Bayer commented on why she thinks this year’s team is better than in past years: “In the past Women’s Soccer at Gustavus has never been very good, but this year we have a unique team with a close bond and a fighting chance to get to the final four,” Bayer said.

The next Women’s Soccer game will be at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 1:00 p.m.