Staff Writer- Katelyn Hoppe
Gustavus Women’s Soccer took on the Hamline Pipers this past Saturday on their home field, earning themselves a victory with a final score of 1-0. This puts the Gusties at an overall season record of 4-8-4 and a MIAC record of 3-5-2.
The first, and only, goal of the game was made just four minutes into the match, when Junior Midfielder Kate Hamski passed the ball to Sophomore Defenseman Katie Thomas, resulting in Thomas’s first career goal as a Gustie. Continuing throughout the first half of the game, Gustavus was dominant offensively with three shots at the goal.
In the first half, Senior Goalkeeper Katelyn Olson made one save. Throughout the second half, the Pipers’ offense grew more aggressive. With five shots on goal, Olson blocked each one. Olson, impressively, has made over 100 saves in this season alone and nearly 400 in her career at Gustavus.
“I think it’s important to remember that although I’m the furthest and last person back on the field, the ball still has to get past 10 of my teammates before it gets to me. Being a goalkeeper is definitely a mental battle at times, but I’ve learned to trust my training and remind myself that I’m capable of doing my job, especially with the support of my team,” Olson commented.
In the second half of the game, the only shot on goal by the Gusties was initiated by First-Year Midfielder Luci Chastney. The victory at this match made it Gustavus’ fourth consecutive win against Hamline and 30th of all time.
“One moment from Saturday that really stuck with me was after I made a goal-line save. My teammate Sophia Post came over, slapped my back, and yelled, “LET’S GO!” It’s those moments, the adrenaline of the game and the excitement of my teammates, that I live for. Knowing that my team has my back makes the pressure feel a lot less like something I’m carrying alone,“ Olson said.
The end of the season is soon approaching for the women’s soccer team, with only two games remaining as of writing; a home game against UW-Stout that took place on October 28th, and then an away game in Northfield to face Carleton on October 31st, who are currently first in the MIAC.
“Something that has really stuck with me these last couple of weeks is the idea that everyone is hurting at this point in the season. Everyone is tired, sore, and pushing through something, but what makes it special is that we’re all willing to go through that pain for each other. At the end of the day, it’s about playing for the love of the game and for the people standing beside you,” Olson says.
Going into her last few games as a Gustie, Olson reflects on the family-like dynamic of the team, who have constantly supported each other off the field, without wavering the high expectations they set for themselves on the field. The goalkeeper hopes that this season laid a foundation for younger players, and future players to come.
“The results of a season might eventually be forgotten, but the relationships, the lessons, and the standard we leave behind are what really matter to me,” Olson remarked.
The head coach for the women’s soccer team is Gustavus alumna Lauren Johnson, who was a four-year starter during her time on the team. Throughout the two years she has been head coach, she has guided players who have been recognized by the MIAC, either as players of the week, or as all-team members. Prior to coaching at Gustavus, she held the assistant coach position at UW-La Crosse and at Wartburg College.
“Looking back on this season, I think I’ve gained an entirely new level of gratitude for the sport. As much as the results can hurt sometimes, I’ve learned that there’s always a bigger lesson behind them. The work that goes into this game doesn’t go unnoticed, and despite how tired we were or what other people might have thought, we continued to show up, push ourselves, and find another level for each other,” Olson stated.