Complete Release (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team finished the 2009 season with a 2-14-0 overall record and 2-11-0 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action, good for 12th place in the final conference standings.

Letterwinners (19):  Heather Anderson, Tatum Borstad, Samantha Eicke, Alicia Erickson, Kelly Fitzgerald, Liz Judkins, Alyssa Lavorata, Siobhan Morales, Brittany Oehlerking, Kendra Olchefske, Jessica O'Neill, Courtney McCarthy, Madison Miller, Chelsea Morin, Chynna Nguyen, Jenna Perske, Maggy Rouse, Kate Voigt and Amber Williamson.

All-NSIC:  Junior defender Jenna Perske (Sartell, Minn.) picked up All-NSIC honorable mention honors in 2009.  Perske started every game in 2009 and recorded three shots on goal.

Academic All-NSIC (7):  Heather Anderson, Kelly Fitzgerald, Liz Judkins, Brittany Oehlerking, Kendra Olchefske, Jenna Perske and Amber Williamson.

Farewell:  Heather Anderson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) will laced up her cleats and threw on a Mustang jersey for the last this season.  The midfielder was the lone senior on this year's squad.  Anderson has been a mainstay on the pitch for the past four years as she is the career leader in minutes played at SMSU with 5,224.  She has also scored one goal, dished out four assists and tallied 57 shots during her tenure as a Mustang.

According to the coaches:  The NSIC's 14 head coaches tabbed SMSU 12th in their annual preseason poll.  The Mustangs received 125 points in the poll.  Minnesota State, Mankato took the No. 1 spot in the poll, grabbing one first place vote and 167 points.  Winona State, the NSIC's No. 2 preseason team, received three first place votes and 159 points.
    Team (first place votes)    Points
    1.    Minnesota State (1)    167
    2.     Winona State (3)    159
    3.     Augustana    134
    4.     Minnesota Duluth    130
    5.     Mary    126
    6.     St. Cloud State    105
    7.     Northern State    98
    8.     Bemidji State    85
    9.     Upper Iowa    82
    10.     Concordia-St. Paul    58
    11.     Minnesota State Moorhead    51
    12.     Southwest Minnesota State    34
    13.     Minnesota, Crookston    23
    14.     Wayne State    22

The coach:  Amy Olson is in her second year as the leader of SMSU soccer.  The third head coach in school history, Olson has a 5-28-0 all-time record at SMSU.  She is assisted by Vanessa Paswaters.

Let me point this out:  The NSIC's 14 head soccer coaches this year voted to use the point system to determine standings.  The league had previously determined standings by a team's overall conference record.  Here's how this year's standings will break down:  Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a tie and no points for a loss.

Stay connected:  Stay connected with SMSU soccer all season long at www.smsumustangs.com.  The Mustangs are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/smsumustangs and www.twitter.com/smsumustangs.  For the latest video highlights and new episodes of the Mustang Minute check out SMSU's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/smsuathletics.