Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

First off, I would like to thank everyone who has made an impact in my soccer career. There are so many people and I know I will not be able to thank everyone but just know that I appreciate what you have done for me so I could play the game that I love for as long as I have been able to.
    
I want to say thank you to my parents and sister first. You guys have always supported me and cultivated my love of soccer from the start with the purple grapes; all the way up until my last college games, you guys have been there so supportive of me. I do not think you guys have missed many of my games in my whole career and I want to say how truly thankful I am for that it means more then you can imagine. Mom, thank you for always bringing me back down to earth when I thought the world was coming to an end or when I did not think I was going to be ready for pre season, you always put things in perspective for me and taught me that as long as you have a plan you can do almost anything. Dad, thank you for being my motivator and inspiration. This season before a game coach had us write down what inspires us and I wrote my dad. Your never giver up attitude has inspired me my whole career and has driven me to the level I am at.  Olivia, I know that being the little sister and being dragged to all my games wasn’t the most fun at times but I think it made you fall in love with soccer and I am so happy that this sport is something that we have been able to share and really bond over. You have been the best training partner over the past years and I want to say thank you for helping me get this far.
    
I have had many coaches over the years but there have been a few that really made an impact on my career. First I want to thank Coach Angelo Mongelluzzo. Thank you for giving me a chance and believing in me and giving me the fire and tenacity that has gotten me to this level. Coach Mark Kutze, you have been the biggest influence in my soccer career. You transformed our team from a team that was on the brink of relegation to a team the won our district and along with that you built me into the smart, quick, and confident player that I am today. You pushed me and abilities to the next level because you know I could always be better. Even after your time as my coach passed you stayed in touch with me and continued to work with me to prepare me for college and that truly made the biggest difference. You also shared your love of coaching with me by giving me the opportunity to assistant coach for you and this has been one of the best experiences in my life. I have learned so much more about the game of soccer and showed me a way to still be involved in the game after my years of playing have come to an end. You have truly been an instrumental coach in my soccer career.
    
I want to say thank you to my personal trainer Andrew Franz. I see you as almost a big brother that I never had as I have been going to workout with you since I was a sophomore in high school. You not only made me physically stronger but also mentally. Whenever I was having an off day you made a point to make it a learning moment and have me push myself even harder. You have instilled a never say can’t attitude and a crazy work ethic that I will carry with me forever. Every pre season I am thankful for all the hard work I had put in with you over the summer because it really prepared me mentally and physically for the season.
    
To all my teammates from high school, club and college thank you for everything you guys have done, all the laughs, memories, and the motivation to push through the tough times I truly could not have done it without you guys. To my high school teammates Mina, thank you for being my bench buddy and venting with me after games or practices. The support system we had for each other then is a major reason I did not just quit soccer after that season. You may live on the other side of the country now but I can still always count on you when I need to just talk soccer with someone who gets it.
    
Neil, me ending up at Saint Mary’s was fate just by the way I got recruited. You had no idea who I was and I had no idea Saint Mary’s existed but pure chance brought you to my senior day in high school and the rest was history. You like many of my other coaches saw potential in me and gave me a chance and for that I am forever thankful. You challenged to me be a better person, player and leader, developing me into who I am today.  
    
Halberg, you have been my number one cheerleader over the past four years and never gave up on me. You always knew when I was having a tough time and went out of your way to pick me up and let me know you believed in me and that made all the difference.
    
Now for my college teammates. Freshmen, you guys may be a small class but you guys pack quite a punch. I love each and every one of you to bits and it breaks my heart that I only got one year to play with you guys but I know there are great things in the future for you. Haylee- your positivity and optimism is so obvious and contagious don’t ever change that about yourself and you are an extremely hard worker and that will get so far in life. Shelly- your dedication and toughness is so inspiring. Watching you grind through 90 minutes in pain but still giving it all you have has been so amazing to watch and inspired me. Gabby- my baby keeper! From the start we had a different relationship because I had coached some of your friends but we have become so close over this season and it has been so cool to watch you progress and grow as a player I am so excited to see what the future holds for you. Ashley- you girl remind me a lot of myself as freshmen. You have a passion for the game and a natural instinct that cannot be coached and it is something special. You as a freshman on this team have been an amazing leader and I know that you are going to continue to be that leader in the following years.
    
Sophomores, your class is full of fire and spunk and that is what makes you guys stand out. All of you are willing to give 110% no matter what and that is what makes you guys such a valuable part of this team. Thank you for always giving it your all it has been so much playing with each of you. Becca- you are always someone I can count on both on and off the field. We have such a unique relationship where we can up front and real with each other but know that it is coming from a good place. Your passion for the game and your drive to run down every ball and get in keepers faces has been one of my favorite things to watch these past two years. You are one of the most instinctual forwards I have ever played with… you just get it. I am so happy and honored to not only call you my roommate but also my teammate.
    
Juniors, you guys are one of the most dedicated classes, I mean just look at how many there are of you guys left. Your work ethic is unmatched and you are always striving to push the team and your teammates to be better everyday. I am so lucky to be able to spend the most time playing and growing with you guys. I have created some of the most meaningful relationships with your class. Marissa C- over the past three years I have loved watching our relationship grow and playing in the back line with you was something that always gave me comfort as I knew you were always going show up and play hard. You are a smart, quick and tough defender and that what sets you apart and don’t ever change those things about your game. Abby- I knew from your freshmen year you meant business and that you would be a forced to be reckoned with and boy was I right. Yes you have had your struggles but your resilience and never give up attitude is something I commend you on and is something that I admire about you. Playing in the back line with you over the past three years has cultivated our relationship and took it to another level, I know you will always have my back and will be a teammate forever even after our soccer careers are done.
    
To my one and only transfer, Fish, it has been such an amazing season playing with you. I wish I could have more time playing with you, you bring such a calming yet intense energy to the team as you are always going hard but know when to take a step back and just listen.
    
Seniors, WE DID IT!!! It is crazy that we are now down to only six of us. I would not have wanted to go through these four years with any other group of girls. You all challenge me in different ways and I have learned so many things about life and soccer from each of you. We have been through the highs and lows the our college careers together I think that is what makes us so close, we were there for each other at our lows and we celebrated our highs together. Aubrie- Bob, you started off as my keeper but your transition to a field player was seamless and it was so cool to watch. Your energy on the field is something that I can always count on to pick me up as you always play with intensity. Bridgett- your constant willingness and openness to learn and try new things is something that has made you someone fun to play with and watch over these past four years. You took whatever coach told you and you applied it and gave it 110%. You never gave up if you had a bad touch or play you were back in the next play working hard. I could always count on you to provide a big hit in each game, which always put a smile on my face. Anna- your growth and development over the past four years have been my favorite thing to watch. I know that no matter what the drill or game is that you are working hard and giving it your all. Your selflessness for the team is something that has made this team as successful as it has been. I will miss your witty comebacks and your inspirational but funny posts in the Facebook page. Marissa D- you are the light of the team always bringing laughter and always finding the positive is any situation. When things were tough you did not give up you would just put your head down and work hard to get where you wanted go but again all with a positive attitude that inspires others on the team to follow your lead.  Emma- I am going to say this and I know you are going to argue that it is not true but it is so just take the compliment, but you are the most talented played I have played with. Your athletic and mental ability to not only be a key player on one team but two teams is something to be proud of. You may not be the most vocal player on the field but you play hard and smart and that in it-self inspires other to pick their game up. Your willingness to do whatever it takes to make the team better and not complaining once is something I will always remember.
    
I cannot believe my four years as a cardinal have come to an end but I could not be more proud to have played on this team with all of the amazing women who have made this program the tight knit family that I have come to love and will miss. GO CARDS!