Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

Jacob Bina
Jacob represents the type of student-athlete that makes coaching at this level such a positive and rewarding experience.  He literally will do whatever is asked of him to help the team; and while doing so, set the example for his peers and younger players in the squad in how he carries himself on and off the field.  He has taken on an important role as a captain, as a player who is needs to perform well for the team to have success, and as a citizen on campus.  The fact that he is a criminal justice major and will be working in a field in which he can have a positive impact on his community is a perfect fit for Jacob. I hope his athletic experience here at Saint Mary’s will give him some skills and tools to use in his next chapter in life, and he is truly one of the players we look forward to having back to campus every fall.  Jacob has a great foundation on which to move into the real world and impact it in a positive and important manner.  He will be very hard to replace on our team next year, and has a set a high standard for future leaders.

Kam McKeeth
Kam has been one of the most dedicated athletes to play for the soccer program at Saint Mary’s.  Every season, it seems that he sets a new standard for fitness, pre-season preparation and commitment to being a NCAA athlete.   We discuss in our program about the dedication and willingness to train year-round to become the type of program we aspire to be; Kam has been the model athlete in that component of our team every off-season. Additionally, Kam has been willing to adapt and play different positions and roles within the team to help us move forward as a program. The transition from an attacking player to a defender is not an easy one, but Kam’s work ethic and effort allowed it to be quick and seamless for our team. Off the field, his academics speak to his work ethic as well.  He is a high performer in one of the toughest majors on campus, and I often find myself hearing from his professors on how they impressed with his ability to juggle both high athletic and high academic performance.  Kam is the type of player who coaches depend on to be a part of their foundation of a team, and he will be missed next August when we line up for that first Beep Test.

Sam Puff
I have enjoyed watching Sam compete for Saint Mary’s in two sports; soccer and tennis.  He has embraced a variety for roles for our team, and can be counted upon to always give 100% effort and dedication to his role.  Oftentimes, we have asked Sam to take on the difficult and lonely position of outside back for Saint Mary’s, finding himself defending some of the best attacking players the MIAC, and NCAA Division III has to offer. He is always a positive influence in the locker-room and off the field, and one of the players who I think our returning players will find themselves missing the most next year.   Sam has been an important part of changing the culture of our side into a positive and team-centered program. He is always ready to contribute and serves as a good example to our younger players on how to contribute to team in a variety of roles.

Eric Lusch
Within our staff and within the team, I believe Eric to be one of the most respected players in our program.  He is the type of player who, every day, shows up, works hard to improve and supports his teammates.  He is neither loud nor flashy, but is instead modest, unpretentious and works from a quiet confidence that allows him to compete effectively.  Eric always takes care of his business in the classroom and stands out on our team as the type of player we want to represent Saint Mary’s soccer on campus and in the community.   He will clearly be an alum who steps into the real world seamlessly and effectively.  As a coach, I always find myself enjoying our training sessions in the fall where our player line up and compete to make each other better.  All great programs have that internal competition as the basis for improvement.  Eric’s dedication, adaptability and dependability have allowed our program to make great strides in that department, due to the consistent quality he brings to his team every day.

Gunnar Knutson
Over the course of his four years playing for Saint Mary’s, Gunnar has distinguished himself as one of the most skillful defenders to play for the program.  Due to injury, this fall has been a significant challenge to overcome, and Gunnar has shown poise and composure in taking on that challenge.  For people who have watched our team over the past several years, his absence will be noted next fall, as many of us have developed an appreciation for his ability to distribute the ball out of the back, oftentimes take on the oppositions tallest and strongest attacking players and support his team in a variety of roles on the field.  Gunnar is a great natural athlete who will continue to give back to the game through coaching and leadership roles in soccer.  He has a lot to offer the soccer community and can be an effective mentor for youth and high school soccer athletes.  Gunnar also possesses the ability to connect with a wide range of teammates and personalities, and he will surely be missed by his team next year.