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Ganser shines in leadership, play-making role
By Drew Sandholm
Published:
Monday, October 27, 2003
In the world of sports, it is said that every successful team has strong leadership on the field.
The SCSU soccer team is no exception, arguably finding their's in senior captain midfielder Jennifer Ganser. Heralding a team-leading total of 10 assists this season, it would be difficult to think of Ganser as anything but the play-maker of the Huskies.
A perfectionist on and off the field, Ganser doesn't take her soccer game lightly and it shows.
"I always work hard," Ganser said. "I feel like I play a 110 percent and that 90 minutes is for soccer. That's why I'm there and my focus is there this year."
At Saturday's disappointing 4-1 loss against Minnesota State University-Mankato (MSU), Ganser pulled through to garner the only Husky goal. The goal made for Ganser's first of the season, improving her stats to a strong 12 points.
The longtime rivalry between SCSU and MSU soccer has always made play intensely tough for both teams.
Although for Ganser, playing MSU takes on an even greater meaning.
With an 11-5-0 overall record, the Mavericks are a tough team. One of their most dangerous weapons has been senior forward Amber Dusosky. who leads her team with 14 goals for 35 points and has contributed seven assists this season. To make things interesting, Dusosky also just happens to be best friends with Ganser.
Former teammates at Anoka High School, Dusosky and Ganser were letter-winners under head coach Sarah Chartier. Anoka's great program led to a polished game on both of their behalf.
Years later, Dusosky doesn't find it hard mastering the game on the field, yet she frets facing her friend on the pitch.
"It's always tough to play against her, Dusosky said. "She is one of my best friends. She is a very good player and she played well. She scored for her team and has had a great career."
At Anoka, Ganser was a four-time letter-winner, acquiring one All-State award and All-Conference honors for three consecutive years. Not surprisingly, she was voted captain and promptly earned Most Valuable Player honors.
Ganser's passion for the game didn't start at Anoka High School. She started playing the game when she was just six-years-old. It's no wonder she came to SCSU displaying that same ongoing dedication.
"She came from competing a very good level," said fourth-year head coach Stephanie McGuinness. "She is certainly a very hard worker. She's learned a lot in this game and she knows what it takes to play at this level."
As a first-year player for the Huskies, Ganser scored three goals and made one assist for seven total points in the 2000 season. The following season, Ganser sustained a season ending knee injury. The senior feels that her injury, which required two surgeries, led to a renewed passion in the game.
"That time helped me appreciate the game so much more because when you can't play, you realize you might be taking something for granted," Ganser said.
Her inner drive to commit to excellence and sharp leadership has been a source of inspiration for the younger Husky players. As a fourth-year senior, Ganser feels the relationship between the upper and lower classmen is important to a team's success.
"We have so much team chemistry with this team," Ganser said. "If the upperclassmen wouldn't have stepped in to make me feel comfortable in my first year, I don't think I would have lasted."
For the sake of the team, it's a good thing she did.
Ganser's relationship with her teammates on and off the field has grown into something most teams desire, but few attain. It seems her absence next year will provide the Huskies with great adversity for the next season.
"She will be missed," said first-year forward Trista Cooke. "She is a great leader to everyone on the team. She is like the heart of the team. She works so hard to keep everything together and those will be big shoes to fill."
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