By Haleigh Rojas
Contributing Writer
The women’s soccer team at the College of Saint Rose once again ranked second nationally, a step up from where they were a year ago, and up from being ranked sixth earlier this month, according to a poll by the United Soccer Coaches organization.
In the past 17 years, the team has consistently ranked in the top five nationally. Saint Rose women’s soccer team won 3-2 against Daemen Sept. 19 and 1-0 against nationally ranked Franklin Pierce on Saturday Sept. 23.
As they enter the new season, the team has undergone numerous adjustments since the previous year. A lot of the team’s former members have graduated, and more new, but experienced players are joining. The goalkeeper for the team is incoming freshman Alexa Kieblesz of Middle Village, New York, who has joined her twin sister Ashley at Saint Rose.
Another new player is Brooke DelSignore, who helped lead the Shenendehowa girl’s soccer team to a Class AA championship in 2021 and then transferred here last spring after a semester at Iona University.
Saint Rose Coach Laurie Darling Gutheil has been coaching the women’s team for 28 years at Saint Rose and said she believes that consistently striving for excellence on the field has helped the college field winning teams throughout the years.
“We consistently strive to be one of the top programs in the nation every single year, so it is a place we expect to be and we work really hard to earn the results on the field to put ourselves in the position where that is possible,” says Darling Gutheil.
Darling Gutheil’s training methodology is focused on fostering a high level of performance through a strategic approach. By her way of emphasizing accountability, discipline, and advanced training techniques, Gutheil ensures that her team takes responsibility for their actions and consistently demonstrates self control when on the field.
“We first focus on training at a very high level that’s going to mirror the game, mirror the intensity, the pace, pressure, then we emphasize playing the best quality soccer we can play vigilantly and collectively,” said Darling Gutheil.
Junior Ryleigh Hopeck, who was named NE10 Defensive Player of the Week this week, emphasized the importance of staying focused and maintaining a high level of intensity. “But it’s just intense because everyone has to be tuned in, we have to focus on our next opponent and their tendencies. We have to practice at the same speed of play as it is during the game,” said Hopeck.
“The intensity of my practice directly correlates to a strong work ethic that positively impacts both my on-field performance and various aspects of my life,” Hopeck said. “Beyond the field, it fuels my drive to excel academically, empowering me to pursue high grades and advance towards my career goals,” she said.
By adapting an intense practice mindset, Hopeck harnesses a high work rate that not only benefits her on the field but also extends its influence to other areas of her life. By embracing the intensity of her practice, Hopeck says it not only elevates her performance on the field, but also experiences a profound ripple effect that permeates every facet of her life, enabling her to strive for excellence and reach her full potential.
“Well, we are going to face every opponent’s best game, so every team that we play it’s their hardest, their best game against us because it’s an opportunity to play one of the top teams in the country,” said Darling Gutheil.
Despite the team’s high ranking and high expectations to win, the coach and players realize that they have many challenges ahead when playing other top teams throughout the nation.
“So the adrenaline, the intensity that we face with opponents is significantly higher and so you have to be able to handle that and still be successful and prevail,” Darling Gutheil said.
Darling Gutheil emphasized that she and her team strive to achieve and prioritize the objective of performing well on the field and obtaining positive results, which allows them to be among the top four teams in the country. “It serves as a reflection of the team’s exceptional work quality and the successful outcomes they have achieved on the field,” Darling Gutheil said.
Hopeck offers some advice for young aspiring soccer girls. “You can do anything if you put your mind to it. You want to make sure that you stay competitive while playing soccer with yourself and also your teammates, and you want to make sure you are having fun as well because you can enjoy the game more and take information from your teammates and coaches,” she said.
Senior Jada Brown shares her excitement in her team being ranked top two in the nation and expresses what she hopes to achieve as she continues to strive for excellence in exceeding her goals. “It feels amazing, but it’s just the beginning. We have a lot more work to do, so hopefully we’re number one by December.”
