The Hamline women’s soccer team made huge leaps of improvement in 2005, tying the school record for wins in a season, most goals scored and shots taken as well as fewest goals allowed and shots against.  This season, third-year head coach Tony Englund hopes the Pipers can make a huge leap in another area – the MIAC standings.

After finishing with a record of 7-11, 2-9 in the MIAC last season, the Pipers will look to progress in the close games, especially those within the competitive conference. Last season, the Pipers lost five conference games by the score of 1-0.

“I think the key thing for this team is to win a couple of the close games we lost last year,” Englund said. “The kids that we have are working really hard, and they have proven they can play with most of the teams in the conference. We want to keep that momentum and turn the corner in some of those conference games.”

To do that, the Pipers will need to be better finishers around the net. “We need to prove that we can score on more of the teams in the conference,” Englund said. “Last year, we created opportunities. This year, we need to finish on some of those opportunities.”

The Pipers return their top two leading scorers from a season ago in juniors Ann Donner (Stillwater, Minn.) and Anna McMahon (Stillwater, Minn.) Both earned All-MIAC honorable mention as Donner scored nine goals and three assists for 21 points and McMahon added six goals and seven assists for 19 points. Donner will continue to attack from her forward position with McMahon playing midfield.

Englund hopes to take some offensive pressure off the duo with first-year forward Lindsay Anderson (Cottage Grove, Minn.).

Joining McMahon in the midfield are returning starters Kim Magill (Stillwater, Minn.) and Kendra Watson (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Each netted three goals during the 2005 campaign.

Junior Jessie Kotilinek (White Bear Lake, Minn.) will add depth to the midfield. Incoming first-years Kelly Kunowski (Milwaukee, Wis.), Danielle Foster (Winona, Minn.), Lizzie Steinert (Chicago, Ill.), and Ana Ponone (St. Paul, Minn.) should make an immediate impact.

The Pipers return three starting defenders from last season’s squad. Junior Christine Feely (Stillwater, Minn.) leads the trio, being named All-MIAC honorable mention a season ago. Sophomore Allyce Mohs (Chaska, Minn.) started all 18 games during her first-year season, and senior Katie Laase (Culver City, Calif.) is a three-year starter.

First-year Elizabeth Johnson will be in the mix to contribute along with first-years Chelsea VanDyck (Eagan, Minn.), Cassie Frank (Blaine, Minn.), Joanna Hilger (Minneapolis, Minn.), Amanda Golbek (Portland, Ore.), and Amanda Anderson (South St. Paul, Minn.).

Hamline will have a pair of physically gifted goalkeepers in senior Andrea Eilertson (Kiester, Minn.) and first-year Samantha Winkelman. Both are listed at 5-11 with outstanding hands. Eilertson started all 18 games for the Pipers last season, posting a 1.44 goals against average. Winkelman will also be expected to start.

As a whole, Englund believes his team will be able to play at a faster pace, something that is essential in the MIAC.

“I think we’re getting quicker,” Englund said. “In this conference, speed and speed of play are critical. We’ve learned how to defend in that environment, but we need to be able to do more than counterattack. We need to get into a mentality of wanting to control the game.”