University of St. Thomas Athletics
Sunday, October 20
St. Paul, Minn.
TBA
vs
Kansas City
Photo by: Wesley Dean
Senior Day on the schedule for final Tommie home game
10/18/2024 3:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Women’s Soccer plays the Kansas City Roos for senior day this Sunday
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Tommies (4-8-2 overall, 0-4-1 Summit League) are still in search of their first conference victory since October 8, 2023 after two hard-fought losses against a couple of the strongest opponents in the Summit League. Next on the schedule are the Kansas City Roos (7-6-3 overall, 1-5-0 Summit League) who are fresh off a 1-0 loss to Oral Roberts. The Tommies host the Roos this Sunday for senior day at 1 p.m.
The Toms have lost their last four games after tying the South Dakota Coyotes 0-0 to open conference play on September 26. They have been outscored by conference opponents 6-1 after a 3-1 defeat to Denver and 1-0 loss to Omaha while on their last road trip. Sophia Barjesteh scored the Tommies' first goal in conference play against Denver, a game in which the Purple hit the cross bar on four occasions.
St. Thomas is averaging 0.2 goals per game during Summit League action and allowing 1.2 goals per game defensively. Kansas City's 1-5-0 conference record has them being outscored 12-6 while averaging 1.0 goals per game and 2.0 goals allowed per game.
The Toms have been riding the rollercoaster that is this 2024 season. They are currently 0-5-1 in their last six games while being outscored 11-1. Their last win came on September 13. That 2-0 win against the Leathernecks capped a 4-1 record in five games where the Tommies outscored their opponents 13-4.
Kansas City currently sits two points clear of the Purple in seventh place out of the nine teams in the Summit League. The Roos got off to a scorching start with a 6-1-3 record through nonconference play but have cooled off since entering the conference portion of the season. They are led offensively by freshman, Adriana Benassi with five goals and 11 points on the season. Four of her goals came in two games against Emporia State and Northern Colorado. She has scored one goal in conference play. They have relied on two goalkeepers this season, grad student Riley Moore and redshirt freshman Maddie Sibbing. Moore has played just one conference game with Sibbing getting the call in the other five. Together, they have combined for a 1.01 goals against average and .775 save percentage.
The Tommies have never won a game against the Roos and have been outscored 5-3 with a 0-2-1 record across three seasons. The last time the two teams played at South Field, the Tommies earned a 1-1 tie with a goal from McKenna Lehman.
A baker's dozen on senior day
The Tommies will be celebrating their 13 seniors on Sunday. These 13 are the first class to play nothing but DI soccer for their entire careers at St. Thomas. They have battled through the adversity of the transition with grace and grit. Not a single DI Tommie soccer game has been played without this special group and they will be missed.
Home Gameday Need to Know
Where to Watch
All St. Thomas Women's Soccer home games and away Summit League contests can be viewed on the Summit League Network with a Midco Sports Plus subscription. CLICK HERE!
Live stats for all St. Thomas home games can be viewed on Tommiesports.com with links available on the Tommie Women's Soccer team's schedule page. CLICK HERE!
Tommies' Summit League ranks
March to the Summit
The Tommies were picked to finish eighth out of the nine teams in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll after their 1-5-2 conference record in 2023.
Last season's regular season conference champion Denver Pioneers were voted to the top of the poll edging out challenger South Dakota State by two points (61-59). The Purple finished with 15 votes, placing them between North Dakota State (24) and North Dakota (14).
Both Mariah Nguyen and Olivia Rowe were named Players to Watch by the conference office.
Nguyen led the Purple in goals (five), points (12), and shots on goal (13) last season while Olivia Rowe started every game between the posts in 2023 and earned five shutouts.
Nice to meet you
The Tommies head into the 2024 season with eight newcomers
Getting to Work
The Tommie Women's Soccer coaching staff welcomed a new face into the fold during the offseason with the addition of Jean Viardin.
Viardin holds a US Soccer Senior A license and has over 20 years of coaching experience at youth clubs, high school teams, the WPSL, and the UPSL.
Coach McGill said of Viardin, "We are incredibly excited to welcome Jean to our team! He brings his experience and knowledge to the program and will make an immediate impact in our games and training. He has a positive yet straightforward mindset and will help our players to develop and succeed both individually and as a whole."
Viardin also served as the General Manager for the National Women's Soccer League's FC Kansas City from 2016-2018. His most recent experience came as the Executive Director & Director of Coaching/Player Development at Maplebrook SC, where he has been since 2011.
Follow Along
For any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas Women's Soccer team, follow along on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @TommieWSoccer.
The Toms have lost their last four games after tying the South Dakota Coyotes 0-0 to open conference play on September 26. They have been outscored by conference opponents 6-1 after a 3-1 defeat to Denver and 1-0 loss to Omaha while on their last road trip. Sophia Barjesteh scored the Tommies' first goal in conference play against Denver, a game in which the Purple hit the cross bar on four occasions.
St. Thomas is averaging 0.2 goals per game during Summit League action and allowing 1.2 goals per game defensively. Kansas City's 1-5-0 conference record has them being outscored 12-6 while averaging 1.0 goals per game and 2.0 goals allowed per game.
The Toms have been riding the rollercoaster that is this 2024 season. They are currently 0-5-1 in their last six games while being outscored 11-1. Their last win came on September 13. That 2-0 win against the Leathernecks capped a 4-1 record in five games where the Tommies outscored their opponents 13-4.
Kansas City currently sits two points clear of the Purple in seventh place out of the nine teams in the Summit League. The Roos got off to a scorching start with a 6-1-3 record through nonconference play but have cooled off since entering the conference portion of the season. They are led offensively by freshman, Adriana Benassi with five goals and 11 points on the season. Four of her goals came in two games against Emporia State and Northern Colorado. She has scored one goal in conference play. They have relied on two goalkeepers this season, grad student Riley Moore and redshirt freshman Maddie Sibbing. Moore has played just one conference game with Sibbing getting the call in the other five. Together, they have combined for a 1.01 goals against average and .775 save percentage.
The Tommies have never won a game against the Roos and have been outscored 5-3 with a 0-2-1 record across three seasons. The last time the two teams played at South Field, the Tommies earned a 1-1 tie with a goal from McKenna Lehman.
A baker's dozen on senior day
The Tommies will be celebrating their 13 seniors on Sunday. These 13 are the first class to play nothing but DI soccer for their entire careers at St. Thomas. They have battled through the adversity of the transition with grace and grit. Not a single DI Tommie soccer game has been played without this special group and they will be missed.
- Kendell Ellis, wears #0 from Billings, Mont., has played 10 games in goal with six starts with a 1.75 goals against average, .700 save percentage and an 0-7-0 record
- Annie Bantner, wears #1 from McHenry, Ill., played 16 games in goal with a 1.27 goals against average and .759 save percentage with a 6-6-3 record while recording three shutouts.
- Sofia Caballero, wears #8 from Maple Grove, Minn., played in 63 games, started in 40, with two goals and five assists for nine points with 18 shots on goal and one game-winning goal in 3863 career minutes.
- Emma Fournier, wears #10 from Maple Grove, Minn., played in 35 games and started in six with one goal for two points and seven shots on goal in 987 career minutes.
- Abby Brantner, wears #11 from Medina, Minn., played in 63 games and started in 52 with nine goals and seven assists for 25 career points and 57 shots on goal with one game-winning goal in 4399 career minutes.
- Arianna Sanchez, wears #15 from Castle Rock, Colo., played in 32 games and started in nine with one goal for two career points and five shots on goal with one game-winning goal in 1040 career minutes.
- Lexi Huber, wears #16 from Lakeland, Minn., played in 57 games and started in 38 with 12 goals and six assists for 30 points and 35 shots on goal with three game-winning goals in 3008 career minutes.
- Lissa Mizutani, wears #18 from Excelsior, Minn., played in 64 games and started in 52 with two goals and three assists for seven career points and 29 shots on goal in 4690 career minutes.
- Ellie Tempero wears #22 from Omaha, Neb., played in 64 games and started in 58 with three goals for six career points and 20 shots on goal in 4752 career minutes.
- Mariah Nguyen, wears #23 from Andover, Minn., played in 40 games with 10 goals and eight assists for 28 career points and 30 shots on goal and two game-winning goals in 2383 career minutes.
- Camryn Rintoul, wears #25 from Apple Valley, Minn., played 59 games and started in 46 with five goals and four assists for 14 points and 29 shots on goal with two game-winning goals in 3800 career minutes.
- Annika Eckroth, wears #26 from Edina, Minn., played in 30 games and started in 13 with one goal and three assists for five career points and eight shots on goal with one game-winning goal in 1114 carer minutes.
- Olivia Rowe, wears #31 from Ramsey, Minn., played 25 games in goal with a 1.58 goals against average and .733 save percentage and nine shutouts with a 7-11-7 record.
Home Gameday Need to Know
- Admission to Tommie Women's Soccer is free all season long.
- Visitor parking is available in the Anderson Parking Facility on South Campus.
- When navigating to the stadium from the Anderson Parking Facility please follow the posted signs directing you to the entrance.
- There will be no concessions available for the 2024 season.
Where to Watch
All St. Thomas Women's Soccer home games and away Summit League contests can be viewed on the Summit League Network with a Midco Sports Plus subscription. CLICK HERE!
Live stats for all St. Thomas home games can be viewed on Tommiesports.com with links available on the Tommie Women's Soccer team's schedule page. CLICK HERE!
Tommies' Summit League ranks
- Lexi Huber – T-5th in goals – 5
- Lexi Huber – T-2nd in game-winning goals – 3
- Sophia Barjesteh – T-5th in shots on goal – 14
March to the Summit
The Tommies were picked to finish eighth out of the nine teams in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll after their 1-5-2 conference record in 2023.
Last season's regular season conference champion Denver Pioneers were voted to the top of the poll edging out challenger South Dakota State by two points (61-59). The Purple finished with 15 votes, placing them between North Dakota State (24) and North Dakota (14).
Both Mariah Nguyen and Olivia Rowe were named Players to Watch by the conference office.
Nguyen led the Purple in goals (five), points (12), and shots on goal (13) last season while Olivia Rowe started every game between the posts in 2023 and earned five shutouts.
Nice to meet you
The Tommies head into the 2024 season with eight newcomers
- #3 – Melina Knowles – Freshman – Plymouth, Wis.
- #4 – Kayden Scrima – Freshman – Waukesha, Wis.
- #6 – Juliet Carlson – Freshman – Minnetonka, Minn.
- #14 – Alexandra Amini – Freshman – Pewaukee, Wis.
- #19 – Brooke Nygaard – Freshman – Eagan, Minn.
- #20 – Sophia Barjesteh – Junior – Woodbury, Minn.
- #27 – Annie Mulcahy – Freshman – Saint Paul, Minn.
- #29 – Izzy McEwan – Freshman – Minneapolis, Minn.
Getting to Work
The Tommie Women's Soccer coaching staff welcomed a new face into the fold during the offseason with the addition of Jean Viardin.
Viardin holds a US Soccer Senior A license and has over 20 years of coaching experience at youth clubs, high school teams, the WPSL, and the UPSL.
Coach McGill said of Viardin, "We are incredibly excited to welcome Jean to our team! He brings his experience and knowledge to the program and will make an immediate impact in our games and training. He has a positive yet straightforward mindset and will help our players to develop and succeed both individually and as a whole."
Viardin also served as the General Manager for the National Women's Soccer League's FC Kansas City from 2016-2018. His most recent experience came as the Executive Director & Director of Coaching/Player Development at Maplebrook SC, where he has been since 2011.
Follow Along
For any and all information pertaining to the St. Thomas Women's Soccer team, follow along on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) at @TommieWSoccer.
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/ Women's SoccerWomen's Soccer
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