Gustavus Women’s SOccer
While many athletic teams at Gustavus Adolphus College were in the process of being formed and competing in the 1900’s, it took a little longer for soccer to be a part of Gustavus Athletics. On top of that, it was of course more difficult for women to have an organized collegiate level team, as women’s soccer did not come to be an organized sport until 1983. Women’s soccer was one of the latest sports at Gustavus to form a team, and it all started with coach Paula Buie. According to the Gustavus Online Athletic Archives, she was the first coach for the team and in her first season she compiled a record of 1-4-5. Gustavus women’s soccer was now in the picture.
The following year, Jan MacInnes took over the team and proved that Gustavus women’s soccer could compete. She directed a turn-around season as the Gusties won their first MIAC title (1984) with a record of 9-1-2. With an acknowledgement to their success five players, Wendy Ericksen, Barb Jaeger, Kim Olson, Chris Taddaeimi, and Heather Tideman, were named to the all-conference team. Tideman, the goalie, set a school record of 150 saves in a single season in 1984, along with Barb Jaeger setting the record for most career assists with 28. MacInnes continued to coach the Gusties the following year earning sixth in the MIAC. Tim Kennedy then took over as the women’s soccer head coach for the next four years.
Coach Jan MacInnes, 1984
The Gustavian
Under Kennedy, the Gusties had several up and down seasons. Trying to keep a good name for one of the latest women’s sports to be organized, the Gusties did their best to stay competitive and be successful. In 1986, Kennedy’s first year, Gustavus earned second place in the MIAC. In turn, 1987 brought them back down to sixth again. The following two seasons the Gusties compiled seventh and then sixth in the MIAC, still continuing their strive as being good competitors. Key players during this time included Mindy Mayerchak, Joni Keelin, Nicole St. Dennis, and Marcia Meinke.
In 1990 the Gustavus Women’s soccer program took a turn as Mike Stehlik took over the team. In his first season, the Gusties took third in the MIAC with an overall record of 10-2-3. As Stehlik continued to coach, he was able to rack up some impressive statistics as his teams persisted in proving the ability of Gustavus women’s soccer. The following two season the Gusties continued to have success with winning records both seasons and Ginny Schafer being an all-american in ’91 and ’92. The major success for the Gustavus women’s soccer team then started in the 1993 season as they went undefeated in the MIAC and earned their first bid to the National tournament. Their overall record was 13-3-1, but lost in the first round of the National Tournament to UC-San Diego 2-0. The next three years the Gusties continued their winning, making it to Nationals every year. The season of ’94 they recorded another undefeated MIAC appearance followed by two more consecutive seasons of earning first place in the MIAC. The Gusties never placed in Nationals but made it past the first round two of the five years.
After talking to coach Stehlik about his success he says, “We definitely had a good run at the beginning of my coaching career. For me, the most memorable season was in ’95 based off of our success, the girls, and simply the attitude of the team. Going to Nationals is always a good way to end the season”.
In this successful span, the Gusties compiled an amazing league record of 37-2-1 and an overall record of 58-12-3 with an impressive offense attack that scored 3.34 goals per game and a defense that limited their opponents to 0.66 goals per game. Some of the best soccer players to ever play at Gustavus competed at this time. These all-american athletes consisted of Ginny Schafer, Kerri Pool, Paige Tierney, Colleen Barland, Tina Peterson, and Alecia Tromiczak. Paige Tierne recorded a Gustavus record for having the most goals in a single game with five in the 1994 season game against Hamline, along with the most points in a single game with ten in that same game. That same season, Paige Tierney captured the individual Gustavus record of most goals, assists and points in a season, as she also holds the record for most career goals and career points with 56 and 131.
Following the span of success the Gusties had, Stehlik continued coaching a steady Gustavus team as he captured third place the next two seasons and second place in the new millennium. From the span of 1998-2002 the Gusties consistently racked up a winning season being top four in the MIAC three of the four years.
From then on the Gustavus Women’s soccer team had a bit of a downfall as the competition in the MIAC only got better. The team got eighth in the MIAC the next three seasons, and then in 2006 pulled out a record of 8-8-2 earning sixth in the MIAC. From 2007 until this past season, the Gusties have ended at the bottom of the MIAC. Although the Gusties did not show an impressive record, they did however continue to impressive coach Stehlik and other coaches, and showed that they had the heart and attitude of a successful collegiate level Division III women’s soccer team. After his latest season as head coach Stehlik says, “It has been a rough few years record wise, but the girls I have coached these past few years have been some of the best. They continue to impress me with their work ethic and positive attitude”.
The Gustavian 1992
Mike Stehlik continues to be the head coach of the Gustavus women’s soccer team in his 21st year. He hopes to make another turn-around and get the Gusties back on a winning streak. Hopefully with good recruiting and the improvement of current players, the Gustavus women’s soccer team can once again make a good name for itself.