by Hans Bristol / @hans_bristol / sports@kvsc.org (Photo SCSU Athletics)

Huskies Eye Competing Toward Top of NSIC Table in 2019 Season

The St. Cloud State Women’s soccer team will feel plenty of dissatisfaction with their 2018 NSIC Tournament round loss to Minot State. A strong unit of returning players for Gretta Arvesen’s club have hopes and expectations high going into match-day #1 Friday night hosting Michigan Tech of the GILAC.

Last season saw SCSU finish 8-7-4 and 5^th in the NSIC table, earning them a playoff spot but no further postseason play after a first round exit. Head Coach Gretta Arvesen heads into her 5^th season as the head coach and still lacks a post-season winning result to her resume while in charge of the Huskies.

Hannah Marion is the star attacking player coming into 2019. The senior will look to replicate a strong campaign last season tallying 7 goals and finishing the year with 14 points and a total of 15 goals in her career. Underclassmen such as sophomore Claire Shea and junior Nicole Fris look to stretch the field on the wings for the Huskies and create opportunities for the Huskies to collect goals against opponents.

St. Cloud State’s strongest returning unit may come on the back line, seeing senior center backs Mia Giorgi and Emma Van Donselaar. Rounding out the outside wingback spots will likely see seniors Mallory Mollenhauer and Harper DeMay to be flexible either defending straight up the middle – or pushing the ball wide up the touchlines creating more space for attacking moments this season.

Sophomore goalkeeper Zoe Welsh raised many eyebrows around the NSIC with her command of the defense and leadership in goal. Welsh posted strong numbers in her starts in goal with 6 shutouts in the 2018 season. On and off the field, the sophomore out of Wheaton, Illinois looks to command her net and the backline throughout the season for SCSU.

The 2019 schedule features two familiar opponents from the GILAC conference with Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech visiting St. Cloud. A premiere match-up awaits the Huskies with 2018 D2 Women’s Soccer National Champions Bridgeport before NSIC play opens for the Huskies against NSIC 2018 Regular Season Champions Bemidji State.

KVSC Sports Stream and kvsc.org/sports will have complete Huskies soccer coverage all season long, as well on Twitter @KVSCSports .