Young teams need an experienced player who, along with coaches, helps others adjust to the college game.
Shari Eckstrom fills that role for the Gophers soccer team. Eckstrom is one of five seniors on a team loaded with seven freshmen.
âÄúThereâÄôs definitely a lot of pressure on me to lead the group, especially through adversity. WeâÄôve had a little bit of a hard start,âÄù Eckstrom said.
Minnesota has consistently put pressure on its opponents, but has struggled to find the back of the net. The 119 shots through eight games have resulted in only 10 goals, leading the Gophers to search for answers.
âÄúStepping up and being a leader has been a challenge, but IâÄôm going to continue to lead my team through the Big Ten season,âÄù Eckstrom added.
The 2008 graduate of Champlin Park High School appeared in 21 games off the bench as a substitute when she was a freshman for Minnesota. In her sophomore year she played in 19 games, 18 of which were starts.
âÄúSheâÄôs seen it all. Her freshman year she came off the bench and she had to learn that way,âÄù said head coach Mikki Denney Wright. âÄúSheâÄôs learned from some of the great leaders in our program.âÄù
Her junior year was her breakout year; she started all 23 games and scored seven goals with five assists. In her first three years, Eckstrom amassed 10 goals with nine assists.
âÄúSheâÄôs a leader with her actions, sheâÄôs a leader vocally,âÄù said junior forward Nicole Baier. âÄúSheâÄôs always challenging everyone to be better.âÄù
This year she has one goal and two assists as Minnesota is attempting to turn around its poor start of the season as they start the Big Ten portion of their schedule this weekend.
Eckstrom has dealt with a minor ankle injury early on this season, but has not missed a game.
âÄúMy ultimate goal is to be Big Ten champs and go to the Final Four,âÄù Eckstrom said. Minnesota went to the Elite Eight last year but lost to Georgetown. âÄúRight now IâÄôm taking the Big Ten as a new season.âÄù
The Gophers will need to start converting scoring chances if they hope to compete with teams like Ohio State in the Big Ten.
Eckstrom said she would like to either keep playing soccer or coach a team after graduation.
For now, though, that seems miles off, as Minnesota opens conference play Sept. 18 with the Buckeyes, who made a trip to the Final Four last season.
Young teams need an experienced player who, along with coaches, helps others adjust to the college game.
Shari Eckstrom fills that role for the Gophers soccer team. Eckstrom is one of five seniors on a team loaded with seven freshmen.
âÄúThereâÄôs definitely a lot of pressure on me to lead the group, especially through adversity. WeâÄôve had a little bit of a hard start,âÄù Eckstrom said.
Minnesota has consistently put pressure on its opponents, but has struggled to find the back of the net. The 119 shots through eight games have resulted in only 10 goals, leading the Gophers to search for answers.
âÄúStepping up and being a leader has been a challenge, but IâÄôm going to continue to lead my team through the Big Ten season,âÄù Eckstrom added.
The 2008 graduate of Champlin Park High School appeared in 21 games off the bench as a substitute when she was a freshman for Minnesota. In her sophomore year she played in 19 games, 18 of which were starts.
âÄúSheâÄôs seen it all. Her freshman year she came off the bench and she had to learn that way,âÄù said head coach Mikki Denney Wright. âÄúSheâÄôs learned from some of the great leaders in our program.âÄù
Her junior year was her breakout year; she started all 23 games and scored seven goals with five assists. In her first three years, Eckstrom amassed 10 goals with nine assists.
âÄúSheâÄôs a leader with her actions, sheâÄôs a leader vocally,âÄù said junior forward Nicole Baier. âÄúSheâÄôs always challenging everyone to be better.âÄù
This year she has one goal and two assists as Minnesota is attempting to turn around its poor start of the season as they start the Big Ten portion of their schedule this weekend.
Eckstrom has dealt with a minor ankle injury early on this season, but has not missed a game.
âÄúMy ultimate goal is to be Big Ten champs and go to the Final Four,âÄù Eckstrom said. Minnesota went to the Elite Eight last year but lost to Georgetown. âÄúRight now IâÄôm taking the Big Ten as a new season.âÄù
The Gophers will need to start converting scoring chances if they hope to compete with teams like Ohio State in the Big Ten.
Eckstrom said she would like to either keep playing soccer or coach a team after graduation.
For now, though, that seems miles off, as Minnesota opens conference play Sept. 18 with the Buckeyes, who made a trip to the Final Four last season.
Young teams need an experienced player who, along with coaches, helps others adjust to the college game.
Shari Eckstrom fills that role for the Gophers soccer team. Eckstrom is one of five seniors on a team loaded with seven freshmen.
âÄúThereâÄôs definitely a lot of pressure on me to lead the group, especially through adversity. WeâÄôve had a little bit of a hard start,âÄù Eckstrom said.
Minnesota has consistently put pressure on its opponents, but has struggled to find the back of the net. The 119 shots through eight games have resulted in only 10 goals, leading the Gophers to search for answers.
âÄúStepping up and being a leader has been a challenge, but IâÄôm going to continue to lead my team through the Big Ten season,âÄù Eckstrom added.
The 2008 graduate of Champlin Park High School appeared in 21 games off the bench as a substitute when she was a freshman for Minnesota. In her sophomore year she played in 19 games, 18 of which were starts.
âÄúSheâÄôs seen it all. Her freshman year she came off the bench and she had to learn that way,âÄù said head coach Mikki Denney Wright. âÄúSheâÄôs learned from some of the great leaders in our program.âÄù
Her junior year was her breakout year; she started all 23 games and scored seven goals with five assists. In her first three years, Eckstrom amassed 10 goals with nine assists.
âÄúSheâÄôs a leader with her actions, sheâÄôs a leader vocally,âÄù said junior forward Nicole Baier. âÄúSheâÄôs always challenging everyone to be better.âÄù
This year she has one goal and two assists as Minnesota is attempting to turn around its poor start of the season as they start the Big Ten portion of their schedule this weekend.
Eckstrom has dealt with a minor ankle injury early on this season, but has not missed a game.
âÄúMy ultimate goal is to be Big Ten champs and go to the Final Four,âÄù Eckstrom said. Minnesota went to the Elite Eight last year but lost to Georgetown. âÄúRight now IâÄôm taking the Big Ten as a new season.âÄù
The Gophers will need to start converting scoring chances if they hope to compete with teams like Ohio State in the Big Ten.
Eckstrom said she would like to either keep playing soccer or coach a team after graduation.
For now, though, that seems miles off, as Minnesota opens conference play Sept. 18 with the Buckeyes, who made a trip to the Final Four last season.
