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St. Cloud State University
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Brendel earns defensive honors
By Drew Sandholm
Published:
Thursday, October 9, 2003
Media Credit: Dan Eslicker
Second-year goalie Stephanie Brendel earned NCC Defensive Player of the Week honors after last weekends performance.
Just as expected, the SCSU soccer team has only shown improvement game after game. Ranked ninth in the latest NCAA Division II regional poll, the Huskies have a 6-4-2 record.
Sophomore goalie Stephanie Brendel's contribution in the net has been no exception toward the Huskies' success this year.
The Husky goaltender's game has improved faster than this season is flying by. Brendel has shown great gains in skill from a year ago when she marked up a 2.43 goals against average and a .758 save percentage for a 7-7-2 record.
Every player makes a difference to the overall success of a team, but often not in her first year. Brendel managed to prove herself as an influential player in only her first season with the Huskies.
"I think it might be a little intimidating - her as a sophomore and me as a senior," said senior defender Dana Parus. "She is so confident and by doing so it helps the confidence of everyone else on the team."
Recruited to come to SCSU in the fall of 2002, Brendel didn't have things easy. Hailing from Sheboygan, Wisc., she was to follow in the footsteps of former Husky goaltender, Laura Kenady. A powerhouse in her reign, Kenady's shoes would not be easy to fill.
Nonetheless, the 5-foot-9 keeper didn't fret. Where most might be a little intimidated by the new opportunity and expectations, Brendel didn't think anything of it.
"I actually never saw her play, never met her, never saw any of her tapes," Brendel said. "I actually don't think I'd want to. I'm my own person and play in my own way, own style."
This season, Brendel has posted a 1.45 goals against average, a .830 save percentage, and three shutouts behind a 6-4-2 record following this past weekend's two game homestand at Whitney Field. Brendel had 21 saves Saturday against SDSU and wrapped up the weekend with a seven-save showing during SCSU's 3-0 win over Augustana Sunday.
As a result, Brendel was named the NCC Defensive Player of the Week for last week. Even so, her commitment to excellence and admiration of her teammates drives her for further improvement.
"Seeing them work so hard on the field just really gets me going," Brendel said. "I just know I need to keep the ball away because they work so hard to do it in the first place, so I want to reward them out there for their hard work."
With Brendel in her second season, head coach Stephanie McGuinness says she can see many similarities between the work ethic of the sophomore goalie and her predecessor, Kenady.
"They both are very hard workers and have great attitudes," said McGuinness. "They both wanted to be the best they could."
These characteristics elevate her to a level many athletes hope for, but few achieve.
Aware of the opportunity before her, Brendel sees no limit to her future success, so long as she tries as hard as she is now.
When Brendel played at North High School, she received a massive amount of awards and recognition in compliment of her outstanding athletic abilities. Among them, 2002 Conference Player of the Year and first team All-Conference honors.
Two years later, the sophomore still hungers to accomplish other honors, now at a challenging collegiate level.
"As long as I'm here, I might as well do well and hopefully it will pay off," Brendel said. "By my senior year, I want to get All-American. That may sound far-fetched, but I think I could do it if I play just as hard as I did this past weekend."
Far-fetched or not, in the tough NCC, awards are hard to come by, but maybe not for Brendel. She seemingly never stomachs mediocrity. Not only does she have high hopes for herself, Brendel unselfishly wants the best for her team. Her positive attitude prompts her to always have something complimentary about her teammates.
"She's an excellent person on and off the field," Parus said. "I'm just really glad I just got a chance to play with her. She's that cool of a person."
No matter how good or bad the situation, she never fails to find the positive.
This optimistic attitude Brendel has towards her team is demonstrated on and off the field.
"All of us girls get along on and off the field," Brendel said. "It's really nice because when you do good, they are there cheering you on 100 percent and I'm there doing that for them, too."
Brendel's exemplary personality has seemingly only grown and matured in the past year. Her leadership capabilities have always been there, but it wasn't until this season that she really started to hone and use them.
"She began to talk more and be more aggressive on the field," Parus said. "I don't know how to describe it, but I feel so confident with her behind me. She is really starting to show her true colors on the field."
As Brendel continues to grow with the team and develop as a keeper, she believes the team as a whole will do the same. With a winning record and extreme potential, Brendel believes the Huskies have a great future ahead.
"I have a feeling we are going to finish very well this year," Brendel said. "Normally when I have a feeling, it holds true."
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