MIAC Release
ST. PAUL, MINN. - In order to build a house, one must first build the foundation. The same is true when building a team. In order to build to build a successful program, a coach must first establish the foundation.
That is exactly what St. Catherine University Head Soccer Coach Chris Citowicki did.
When Citowicki took over St. Kate's soccer in 2012, he had a blueprint for what he wanted the team to be. In six years, Citowicki has completely flipped the Wildcat soccer program on its head, flipping it from one of the weakest teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) to a legitimate playoff contender. St. Kate's finished sixth in the MIAC last season and qualified for its first ever trip to the conference playoffs. After a first round loss to No. 3 seed Augsburg, the Wildcats are hungry for more in 2016.
The MIAC will once again prove to be one of the toughest soccer conferences in Division III. According to the preseason coaches poll, St. Kate's is projected to finish seventh in the conference, just outside the playoff picture. However, the Wildcats are poised to make another run at the conference tournament. Despite losing eight seniors to graduation, including All-MIAC honorable mention honorees Ellen Kokes and Elly Leyva, St. Kate's returns a wealth of talent for the 2016 season. Leading the way is senior captain Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn. / Stillwater) whose offensive surge in 2015 helped the Wildcats finish with an overall record of 12-6-1 and a 7-4-0 mark in conference play. Okerstrom earned All-MIAC honors and was named to the NSCAA Division III All-North Region second team after a season where she led the MIAC in regular season goals (13) and was second in total points (28). Her 19 career goals and 41 career points both rank in the top-10 all time at St. Kate's, and Okerstrom will look to add to both categories this upcoming season.
Joining Okerstrom on the front lines is fellow senior and captain Julia Zyla (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Trinity). Zyla is expected to make a big impact in her final season, especially after leading the team in assists as a first year and sophomore. Zyla already ranks in the top-15 in career assists in St. Kate's history and will be a top playmaker for the Wildcats this season.
Seniors Anna Pedersen (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater), Kelly Molitor (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South) and Gabby Scundi (Maplewood, Minn. / Hill Murray) will all play significant offensive roles for St. Kate's this season, while Allie Boucher (Stillwater, Minn./ Stillwater) leads an experienced St. Kate's defense into 2016. Boucher tied for fourth on the team in points (6) and was second in assists (4) in 2015, earning her a place on the MIAC Sportsmanship team.
Six juniors will join in the six seniors in the upper class ranks while six sophomores return for their second stint with St. Kate's. These 18 players form the foundation of the Wildcat program, and will guide the eight incoming first years who all look to make their mark in St. Kate's house of soccer.
The Wildcats will begin their quest for a second straight MIAC playoff appearance on Thursday, when they travel to Morris, Minnesota to play the University of Minnesota-Morris in nonconference play. Then, they will open play at home with a 12 p.m. afternoon game against Transylvania University.
