Deanne Schmidt had five goals and two assists in 2008.
2009 Season Guide

2009 St. Olaf women's soccer preview

Mike Ludwig
August 31, 2009

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - If 2008 was a step forward for the St. Olaf women-s soccer team, head coach Jeremy Driver hopes 2009 is a giant leap ahead as the Oles will return ten starters to a lineup that was .500 in conference play.

2008 saw the Oles finish five games better than their effort in 2007, finishing 8-9-1 overall and 5-5-1 in MIAC games. Driver, in his fourth season, knows that getting his team to the next level will be a challenge. "It's never easy," he said, "but we think this is a season of opportunity for us. It's the deepest team we've had in my four years. We have quality returners and a good group of incoming first years."

Forwards/Midfield
That group of quality returners includes the top four scorers from last year, all sophomores in 2009. Linsday Howard's nine tallies led the way last year and she will return with a group of fellow scoring sophomores: Caitie Christoffell, who had seven goals in her rookie season, Ellie Steiner and Deanne Schmidt. Steiner (six goals and two assists) and Schmidt (five goals, two assists) will be back after 14- and 12-point efforts. Schmidt was an all-conference honorable mention choice and an example of the strong core of underclass players that the team will lean on this year.

The midfield will be anchored by two-time All-MIAC junior K.C. Beed and senior Liz Brustad. Beed led the team with five assists last fall after spending her first campaign as a forward.

Also returning are Becca Neuger, Allyson Connor and Christina Herron-Sweet. Each had two goals last fall. Sophomores Hannah Rosenthal, who played in 17 games in 2008, and Callie Knaeble could see some action again this year.

First years Anna Theis (Jordan, Minn./Prior Lake), Lauren Babcock (Sandy, Utah/Rowland Hall-St. Markżs), Annie Manning (Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka) and Rachel Saunders (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) will compete for time. The team also added first years Caitlin Fox (Overland Park, Kan.) and Aishi Mengi.

Defenders
The Oles look to a pair of seniors - sisters Allison and Christina Mills - to lead the backfield. Christina was an All-MIAC honorable mention selection last year while each started every game in their career. Andrea Fossum will compete for a spot with a pair of first years: Christine Barringer (Littleton, Colo.) and Michaela McCarthy (Omaha, Neb.).

Goalies
Samantha Sickbert and Elizabeth Huggins will likely split time in goal this year as they have in the past two seasons. First year Kristin OżBrien (Rosemount, Minn./St. Paul Academy), an all-state selection and team MVP at St. Paul Academy, could also challenge for the spot as the season unfolds.

Schedule
St. Olaf opens the 2009 season at Grinnell College on Sept. 1. The Oles then play their next five games at home, including three non-conference tilts before the Sept. 15 MIAC-opener against Hamline University.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.