As the calendar flipped over from August to September, the Women’s Soccer team concluded their second week of preseason practices. Leading the troops are Head Coach Laura Burnett-Kurie, who has high expectations for her team as she begins her fourth year of preseason practices with the Gusties.
“We started out with three days of three-a-day practices which included fitness testing, conditioning, and intersquad scrimmages. When those three days were over we selected our team, and we began getting everyone used to what we call the ‘Gustie Tempo’,” Burnett-Kurie said.
The concept of the “Gustie Tempo” can be separated into two parts. In simple terms, it means that you put a lot of pressure on the opponent when you don’t have the ball and keep a high pace of play when you do have the ball. It is a strategy that is very tiring for the players which caused problems last year, as the women’s small squad failed to maximize its full potential.
However, this year, as the team boasts a strong first-year class along with key players returning as upperclassmen, Burnett-Kurie believes that the forceful strategy will guarantee more success than it previously has.
“This year we have more depth. Last season, we would tire and be fatigued at the end of games causing us to drop important points in the standings. Now we will be able to keep pressuring and be stronger throughout the whole game,” Burnett-Kurie said.
One person who will lead that pressure will be 5’10’’ forward Brittany Chase. As the only senior on the team, Chase qualifies as someone who knows the rigorous preseason procedures inside-out.
“I feel like all the girls that’ve come in are adjusting well and Ash came in with a lot of confidence which is necessary for her position.” —Brittany Chase
“We wake up, eat breakfast together, then have our first session. We’ll do fitness tests, squat, bench. Our second session will be technical drills on the field and at night we do full field scrimmages within the team,” Chase said.
One with less experience is rookie goalkeeper Ashley Becker. As Junior Roisen Granlund is sidelined after having to undergo surgery this summer, Becker is expected to take the number one spot and keep it for the rest of the season. Although she is inexperienced at Gustavus, Chase believes Becker will have no problem with getting thrown into the fire immediately.
“I really don’t see her as a freshman. I feel like all the girls that’ve come in are adjusting well and Ash came in with a lot of confidence which is necessary for her position,” Chase said.
Becker made her high school varsity team as a first-year and played more or less every game since then.
“I knew what the situation was like coming in so I felt like I was prepared. Although preseason is longer and the speed of play is faster, I feel like I can handle it,” Becker said.
After a 8-0 victory over Crown College in the team’s only preseason scrimmage, the women proceeded with a strong performance against UW-Eau Claire, showing great character by equalizing a 2-0 deficit with two goals from Chase.
“Crown was a good first game. We needed to play a game where we could set our shape and I think we did that. We haven’t set our goal for the MIAC yet, but I think bouncing back from last year and finishing with a record above .500 is something we would be happy with,” Chase said.
Although the team finished in 9th place last year, Coach Burnett-Kurie believes the team possess the potential required for the team to break through this season.
“I want us to be in the running for a playoff spot when we play our last game,” Burnett-Kurie concluded.
The Gusties will be on the road this weekend, travelling to Iowa where they will face off against Wartburg College on Saturday and Luther College on Sunday.
– Philip Evans