Valley Area
FEATURING:
St. Peter Saints • Le Sueur-Henderson Giants Tri-City United Titans • Cleveland Clippers
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013 • Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013
Preview
St. Peter girls soccer team goes for state 4-peat By PAT BECK
pbeck@stpeterherald.com
group and we believe they will be able to step up and be leaders on and off the field. Many of the top teams in the section have lost long time players so many teams are in the same position we are: New Ulm, West, East. Albert Lea always seems to be in the mix, and Waseca, New Prague, and Austin have made big strides in the last couple years and can not be overlooked. COMMENTS FROM THE COACH We have put together a very challenging schedule for the kids this year, with games against historically powerful teams in our non-conference schedule. Class A match-ups against Holy Family Catholic and Simley, along with our traditional matches with East and West, as well as 3 Class AA matches against Chanhassan, Minneapolis Southwest and Minnetonka. When you start the season with a match against Mankato West, an annual Section contender, you have to hit the ground running. We didn’t get started very fast last year, so we hope to be better in that regard in 2013. — Karl Larson. BY THE NUMBERS 10 — of St. Peter’s 17 rostered varsity players have played in at least 2 state tournaments.
KEY PLAYERS 12 returning players — 7 starters. Of note: Marta Springer, 11, Conference MVP 2012, 12 goals in 2012, Emily Lind, grade 11, 12 goals in 2012, Sally Morrow grade 11, All-Conference HM 2012, 2013 captains Chloe Bachman and Sara Osborne. KEEP YOUR EYE ON Tori Kmett, Halla DontjeLindell and Annika Johnson will work in the midfield with Marta and Sally this season. Maggie Anderson will be in her 2nd varsity season at forward. The backfield has a great deal of varsity experience: Aricka O’Gorman, Noelle Neubauer, Ella Wiebusch, and both keepers, Desi Kreuger and Kaylee Neubauer. Keep an eye on the newcomers McKenna Aune, Lauren Juell and Bethany Anderson. MOVED ON Maria Siebels, Tori Wilking, Haley Jaeger, Faith Dontje-Lindell, Brooke Juell, Alina Bachman, Kierstin Karlsrud and Kathy Brinkman. 2013 SEASON OUTLOOK 2012 record 14-7-0, won the section championship. Finished 6-2 in conference, 2nd place. Reach Sports Editor Pat Beck There are always challenges when you graduate a large group of se- at 931-8566, or follow him on niors, but this is an experienced Twitter.com @SPHSportsPat
The 2013 St. Peter girls soccer team (front, from left) Ella Wiebusch, Tori Kmett, Emily Lind, Sally Morrow, Sara Osborne; (middle row) McKenna Aune, Maggie Anderson, Desi Kruger, Noelle Neubauer, Chloe Bachman; (back row) Bethany Anderson, Aricka O’Gorman, Lauren Juell, Kaylee Neubuaer, Halla Dontje Lindell and Annika Johnson. Not pictured: Marta Springer. (Pat Beck/St. Peter Herald)