Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

Wow, how fast can four years fly by! I really cannot believe how many great experiences, as well as challenges, have happened over the last four seasons as a Saint Mary’s University Cardinal. To begin this salute I want to first thank my parents. Mom and Dad, if it wasn’t for you two I never would have gone to college out of state and had the opportunity to pursue my soccer and personal dreams. Thank you for spending countless hours watching my games, traveling for club and high school, and now making long trips to watch my college games. I know it hasn’t been easy to have me so far away or find the time to visit, but for the last four years you made it work. Also, I want to thank the rest of my immediate family, Jen, Nick, and AK. You all have been so supportive of my soccer career and my life in general. I love you all and appreciate you so much. Granny, I can’t say thanks enough to you. I know you’re used to being in the basketball gym, but it means so much that you came out to my soccer games even when you didn’t know all of the rules. I could always hear you cheering for me!
    
Neil & Halberg - First off, I want to thank you, Neil, for answering the phone between freshman and sophomore year and not thinking I was completely insane when I decided to come back to Saint Mary’s. Thank you both for holding me accountable when needed and also for all of the laughs and fun times we have shared. These four years have meant a lot to me, so thank you for your patience. On a side note, I want to thank you for the experience in England and Ireland. You two were great tour guides and I appreciate you sharing that part of the world with me and the team.
    
Freshmen- I wish I would’ve gotten to spend more time with you all because you are a great group of girls. You are all so talented and are going to be even more amazing players and people by the end of your four years. You have already accomplished more in your first year that most of us on the team have gotten to in our entire career, so don’t take that lightly and make the most of the time you have left. Your future is so bright.
    
Sophomores- I admire all of you sophomores. You all are a pleasure to spend time with and really brought the team up a level when you came in your freshman year. I appreciate you all as people and all of your hard work. I will never forget that you are the class who helped bring us our first win as a team during my time here. The visual of our dog-pile after beating River Falls is one that I will never forget. You all helped bring me so much happiness that day and I smile just thinking about that memory.
    
Juniors- Oh man am I gonna miss you all. I will be so jealous watching your stats next year when I follow your team. Since it has been a long three years I wanted to write you all something:
    
Ellen- I wish we would have gotten more time to play in the back together during these last three years. You are such a strong individual as a player and as a person. One thing that I admire about you is your passion and dedication. You are one tough gal. Of all of the people I have ever been center back with, you might be the only one that I didn’t have to say anything to in order for you to know what I was about to do. I really had a great time playing with you and appreciate the conversations we had and the laughs we shared in the middle of a game just so we could lighten the mood.
    
Aubrie- Aubs…I really don’t even know what to say. You are one amazing girl. So beautiful on the inside and out, and so true to yourself. I can say that you are one of the best friends I have made in college. nd I can even remember when we met on your recruitment visit, which means a lot because we both know how bad my memory is, lol. I think that it is funny how much we can yell at each other in a game when you’re in goal and then once the game is over we can just go right back to joking around and being so close as friends. Thanks for three years of being a great friend, sharing your clothes, singing in the car, listening to my life struggles, taking random drives, sneaking into the VIP section at concerts, and having great weekends. I can’t wait for more to come!
    
Anna- Anna, you make me laugh the most out of anyone on the team. Not gonna lie, it took me a minute when I first met you to understand your sense of humor because I took you serious all of the time haha. Now, since I’ve gotten to know you, you are one of the funniest and nicest people I have ever met. Whether it is talking in funny accents or joking about getting chizzled you are always one person I can count on to make my entire day brighter. You are such a great friend and I hope the best for your future! Keep scoring goals like you did in Concordia because that goal was one of the best moments I can remember in my four years here.
    
Emma-I really wish I could be as calm and composed as you are as a person as well as on the field. I don’t know another player that is able to dribble the ball so flawlessly with five defenders on them at once haha. It really is a privilege to have played with someone as talented as you. Along with being a great player, you are one of the kindest and smartest people I know and I hope the best for your future.
    
Marissa- Mar, you are one of the only people that can really understand my logic sometimes lol. You are so funny and understanding. I don't think you don’t have a mean bone in your body because you are always so concerned about the well being of everyone around you. We have had so many fun times together and shared so many laughs. I know we are going to stay in touch so I can’t wait to see what other memories we have in store for our friendship.
    
Bridgett- Bridgett, when I think of our friendship I think about how far we’ve come from that day we got paired to talk my sophomore year and your freshman year. We’ve gotten so much closer since then and I am so glad you are a part of my life. You are so gorgeous and so kind. Thank you for all of the memories we have made and I can’t wait to stay in touch and make more great memories as life goes on.
    
Seniors- Man, how far have we come. I don’t think there there has been a group of teammates that I have ever been through so much with during my athletic career. When we were all recruited, we knew this was going to be a rebuilding team. I really don’t think we knew what we were signing up for when we decided to come here freshman year, but man did we all grow so much from where we started. First of all I want to say how much I admire all of you for sticking with the program and making the last year a bit easier than the three before. This last year is a reflection of the hours of hard work we have all dedicated to this program. It has not been an easy road to say the least, but this time has made me truly take in every win and appreciate the good times. You should all be proud of what we have accomplished. We are only one half of the players our class started with, that commitment and persistence shows a lot about your individual character.
    
Viv- I am so glad you got all of those knee issues taken care of so we could finally play together on the field! You are an outstanding mid-field player and also an outstanding person. I don’t think I really ever talked to you until our England and Ireland trip, but I’m glad I did because I found out that you are so funny and witty and such a joy to be around. Have fun taking on the next step in your education and good luck in your future, I know you’ll do great.
    
Carol- You have accomplished so much in the last four years here at SMU. I really wonder how you do it all sometimes. Your determination and hard work will take your far in life and I can’t wait to see where you end up. I’m happy to have met you in college and will always remember you were “that one girl from Ohio” that I met on my recruiting visit. Even though the last four years haven’t always been a walk in the park, you have grown so much as a leader on the team and captain since sophomore year. I hope we will stay in touch and wish you the best for everything you do after soccer and college.
    
Kelli- It’s been fun playing on defense with you this last year. (Even though sometimes you go to a different spot on the field haha). It is nice to have a fellow senior to celebrate all of the goals and wins with because I think we both know how big of a deal they really are! I think that the trip to England and Ireland was really a turning point for our friendship. I’m glad we were able to work out whatever differences we had freshman year because it has been nice to have you as a teammate. You have been a great leader and dedicated to this team since day one and I wish you the best for the rest of your future endeavors.
    
Bri- Coming into college we hit it off right away as we sat on the sidelines every practice freshman year. You always have been easy to talk to and always are a joy to play alongside. As we have talked about before, I always have fun playing with you because I think we really get each other on the field. You are a hard worker in everything you do, but I admire you most for the fun you always like to have. I mean come on, who else can be laughing at half time after they break their hand in a game. Only you! This is because you have a great spirit and always bring such a positive energy.
    
Emily- I hope I don’t tear up writing this because you know how emotional I can get sometimes lol. I think it’s hilarious that I picked you as a roommate freshman year and we are still such good friends. Who would’ve thought that after how crazy first semester was freshman year we would be roommates again senior year and have so many fun times. I tell you all of the time that you are one of the funniest people I know and obviously the only person I know that can pull off your crazy dance moves. Soccer has been great sometimes, but tough a lot of the time, especially this last year. You have been a great roommate and friend every step of the way,even when things were ugly. Thanks for being my words of wisdom, my sounding board, and the person who knows me the best out of anyone on the team. I can’t wait for many more great ideas and adventures to come. (Even though not everyone thinks our ideas are always great lol). It’s been a fun and hilarious four years my coloradan friend.
    
Thanks again everyone, for making these four years something to remember. I am really going to miss putting on that #25 Saint Mary’s jersey. I wish you all the best and hope that I stay in touch with you in the future. Love you all