Minnesota State University Reporter

Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Womens Sports

Media Credit: Raymond Starin Laura Leber led the North Central Conference in points and goals as a freshman in 2007.

After his first two games as head coach of the Minnesota State soccer team, Peter McGahey is able to refute any suggestions that he has jitters going into his first season with the Mavericks.

"There's no nervousness because we have the utmost confidence in our student-athhletes," said McGahey, who's taking over for long-time MSU coach Chris Miskec. "[Miskec] built a tremendous program and we're going to try and eclipse what she's done but we're not going to be anything different than what we are."

Now that the season is underway, McGahey and the No. 7 Mavericks are focused on making a run this season, picking up where they left off last November by duplicating their run through the postseason.

"We're all really excited because we're ranked high now but we want to prove that we can do better than last year," said senior defensive back Kelly Sadler.

While ranked as high as No. 4 in 2007, MSU earned a top seed in the Central Region, advancing to the region final where UNO eliminated the Mavericks 2-0 at The Pitch at Gage Towers.

MSU is armed to go one step further by reaching the 2008 Division II Final Four in Tampa, Fla. McGahey said his team's experience is its backbone.

"We have a group of players who have experienced success," McGahey said. "That experience is very important because the players have that reservoir to draw from."

The Mavericks return 10 of 11 starters from 2008 with a back line that features Sadler along with sophomore Emily Petrovich and junior Abby Maxon - who was given All-America honorable mention.

"It's a place of great depth on the team," McGahey said. "It's a solid unit that we'll count on to absorb some pressure for us."

The returning core from last season's midfield consists of third-team All-American senior Marti Klinsing and junior Gina Paletta, who has started nearly every game since she was a freshman.

"It's a hard-working group," McGahey said. "As the season goes on, they'll grow into their responsibility and will a play bigger role on our team."

The front line features the same offensive firepower from last season, including Laura Leber - who led the North Central Conference in points (26) and goals (11) scored as a freshman in 2007 - and senior Carly Petersen, who's fourth on MSU's career points list with 63.

"On paper, Carly Petersen is one of the top five players in the program's history," McGahey said. "And we have Laura Leber who set the world on fire last year."

Sadler, Petrovich, Klinsing, Paletta, Leber and Petersen were All-NCC selections last season.

The only position in where McGahey needs to find a replacement is at goalkeeper. Junior Sheila Reynolds, who saw 276 minutes in net last season with a 1-1 record, is most likely to succeed All-NCC pick Nichole Johannson, but the spot is still up for grabs.

Kirsten Blegen and Briana Hendricks are also vying for the starting spot.

"It's been a healthy competition between the keepers we have," McGahey said. "Sheila is moving herself forward as an upper classman and will have the responsibility to carry some of the expectations of the team."

The Mavericks are coming off an opening weekend in which MSU fought back from a two-goal deficit to beat No. 14 Metro State (Colo.) last Thursday, then lost to unranked Regis (Colo.) 2-1 Thursday.

McGahey switched up the lineup somewhat in the first two games to get a feel for his new team.

"Our lineup is always able to be adjusted based on the opponent or which players are peaking at that time," McGahey said.

MSU looks to rebound after the loss to Regis when it travels to face two more Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents in Colorado-Colorado Springs Friday and Colorado School of Mines Sunday.

The Mavericks have next weekend off to prepare for their inaugural Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule with a pair of home games against Minnesota-Duluth and Bemidji State.



Tyler Buckentine is the Reporter managing editor

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