Sports
Jensen, Defense Key For St. Michael-Albertville's Soccer Success
The standout goalie helped lead a defense that produced 12 shutouts last year. The Knights hope to have the same formula in 2011
For the St. Michael-Albertville girls soccer team, last year’s success was all about the defense.
The Knights posted 12 shutouts a year ago, thanks in part to then-sophomore goalie MiCale Jensen and a stout defensive unit in front of her. That dominance helped bring the Knights within a game of the state tournament—ultimately losing to Elk River 4-3 in double overtime in the Section 8AA final.
This year’s squad is younger, but the hope is that last year’s success pours over into a strong 2011 campaign. Coach Megan Johnson understands there might be a defensive learning curve this time around.
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“We did have very experienced defenders last year,” Johnson said, “This year is a little different story we only have one returning defender. So that will be our challenge this year.”
Jensen, along with sophomore backup Becky Panuska, will be the goalies for the Knights this year.
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“It’s always the goal to get that shutout, to get that accomplishment, but if we win the game that’s the main thing for us,” said Panuska.
So far it’s been the win that the Knights have been getting, starting the 2011 season 3-1. Though yet to record their first shutout this year, it seems that with growth of the young defenders the team is meshing as a whole.
Jensen, a proven varsity goalie, will likely lead the way. Johnson said Jensen is the fastest goalie she has seen, and it’s that attribute along with her work ethic that makes her such an asset for STMA in net.
Still, Jensen said she isn’t going to rest on last year’s accomplishments. She said she wants to still improve.
“I’ve been working on high balls and we’ve been working on our range side to side on dives,” Jensen said.
Johnson said Jensen’s next step is to move into a more vocal leadership role on the team.
“That’s one area I really wish MiCale would improve on, she leads by example,” Johnson said. “But I told her today that your goal needs to be to work on your communication.”
Shutouts and regular season wins are nice, but when the topic of last season came up, it was more obvious where the two goalies minds were.
Panuska and Jensen didn’t hesitate bringing up that double-overtime loss in the section finals a year ago.
“We want to make it farther than last year in sections,” Panuska said, “and in the state tournament.”
