Women’s Soccer Update

Blue Knights 1–2 as of Sept. 5

The women’s soccer team at Dakota County Technical College faced some tough competition in the early going of the 2014–2015 season, losing 2–3 to the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets, ranked seventh in the latest NJCAA Top 20 National Poll for Division III women’s soccer, and 0–9 to the Lewis & Clark Community College Trailblazers from Godfrey, Illinois, ranked 17th in the NJCAA DI poll.

DCTC started the season Aug. 21 away from home in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in a scrimmage against the Viterbo University JV, losing 1–3. The Blue Knights then played a strong game against RCTC at home Aug. 23. During the Minnesota Kickoff Classic, hosted for the fifth year by DCTC at the Ames Soccer Complex, the Knights played two games, starting with Lewis & Clark Aug. 30. The team wrapped up the tournament Sept. 1 against the Red River College Rebels from Manitoba, Canada, winning  2–1.  A game against the College of Lake County Lancers from Grayslake, Illinois, was cancelled.

Women’s soccer preview

Mark Obarski

The Blue Knights will be an unproven team to start the season, having just four returners from last season. The returning players will guide the team during the early schedule. Mark Obarski is the team’s first-year head coach. Obarski came to DCTC after coaching varsity soccer at Eagan High School in Eagan, Minnesota, for 14 years.

The Blue Knights will focus on an attacking style of soccer while relying on a more cautious approach to defense. The goalkeeper position will be a competition between returning starter Hannah Smith and newcomer Jordyn Briebarth. The midfield will be under the control of Kenya Macias and Anna Giles, both incoming freshmen. Mary Gonzalez and Stephanie Walters, both returners, will lead the defense. The Blue Knights play a tough schedule that will ultimately benefit the team during the always difficult regional playoff in late October and November.

Head Coach Mark Obarski and Assistant Coach Chris Petersen are excited to work with a college-level team with so much promise. They coached together for 11 years at Eagan High School. “Our team is young and inexperienced in a number of positions,” Obarski said. “That showed against Rochester and Lewis & Clark. We played very well against Red River. Our goalkeep, Jordyn Briebarth, played an exceptional game.”

Blue Knights vs Trailblazers gallery

For more photos from the game, visit DCTC on Flickr.

Player spotlights…

Mary Gonzalez

Sophomore defender

• Age: 19
• High school: Apple Valley
• Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
• Current residence: Apple Valley, Minn.
• Academic program area: General education courses with a focus on Exercise & Sport Science
• Jersey number: 9
• Playing experience: Played fours years for Apple Valley, two on varsity; club soccer with Valley United and Lakeville; freshman year at DCTC
• Favorite part of soccer: Knowing that really playing as a team allows you to match the skill and experience of a stronger opponent
• Favorite soccer team: Chivas (CD Guadalajara)
• Favorite player: Leo Messi, FC Barcelona
• Career plans: Transfer to St. Catherine University and earn her doctorate in physical therapy and exercise science; hopes to play soccer for the Wildcats
• Family: Two sisters, one older and one younger; older sister has two children, making Mary an aunt with one niece and one nephew
• Pastimes and hobbies: Relaxing and hanging out with her boyfriend, Jose Andriano, a midfielder on the Blue Knights men’s team

What brought you to DCTC?
“I wanted to play college soccer and DCTC has an Exercise & Sport Science program.”

What do you like about the college?
“I really like my classes. My instructors are great. My physics instructor was amazing. I got an A in the course.”

Quote about upcoming season:
“We need to work as a team. When we connect as a team, we will succeed.”

Mikaela Reisgies

Sophomore forward

• Age: 19
• High school: Rosemount
• Hometown: Rosemount, Minn.
• Current residence: Apple Valley, Minn.
• Academic program area: General education courses with a focus on health care
• Jersey number: 2
• Playing experience: Freshman year at DCTC; ran 100 meter and 200 meter on track team at Rosemount H.S.
• Favorite part of soccer: Sees team as family; loves the footwork and shooting
• Favorite soccer team: Arsenal
• Career plans: Transfer to the Minnesota Alliance for Nursing Education (MANE) at Inver Hills Community College after DCTC; eventually earn her BSN and become an RN in hospice care
• Family: Twin sister, Marisa, attends the University of Kansas; three brothers
• Pastimes and hobbies: Eating chicken wings and ice cream; hanging out with boyfriend, Titus, a nutrition major at Inver Hills

Why did you go out for soccer at DCTC?
“Cam [Stoltz] asked me to join the women’s soccer team my freshman year at DCTC. I said yes, but I was nervous at first. I needed to learn the basics. Now I love it.”

What do you like about the college?
“I enjoy working in the college’s Athletics department. We support each other.”

Quote about upcoming season:
“We go out to win every game.”

The Blue Knights compete as an independent in NJCAA DI women’s soccer. All home games are played at the Ames Soccer Complex on the DCTC main campus in Rosemount, Minn. The DCTC Alumni game is scheduled at Ames Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. The next home game is against the Bismarck State College Mystics Sunday, Sept. 14, at noon.

For more information about women’s soccer at DCTC, contact:

• Mark Obarski
  Women’s Soccer Head Coach
  651-423-8676

For more information about NJCAA athletics at DCTC, visit GoBlueKnights.com, or contact:

• Cam Stoltz
  Athletic Coordinator
  Men’s Soccer Head Coach
  651-423-8462