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Zelinsky Shut the Door on Soccer Foes
Dave Pedersen * Sun Newspapers
(Created: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 9:14 PM CDT)

Park Center goalie Jamie Zelinsky did her part in helping the girls soccer team get to the Section 2AA semifinals before losing 1-0 to Wayzata Saturday. Zelinsky allowed just 11 goals scored against her in 20 games while earning 12 shutouts. That means all 10 of the team's wins and two of the four ties were shutouts.

The team won eight of the 10 games by one goal. Down the stretch of the season, Zelinsky had six shoutouts in the final nine games to finish the season at 10-6-4. Park Center finished fourth in the North Suburban Conference with a 5-3-1 mark.

Zelinsky posted another shutout in the 2-0 win over Minnetonka to open the Section 2AA tourney. The senior ranked 10th in the metro during the regular season with a goals against average of 0.53, playing 1490 minutes.

For the season, the Pirates allowed just 11 goals, but managed to score just 15, the lowest among the 10 Northwest Suburban Conference teams. Coon Rapids led with 62 goals, while Champlin Park netted 53.

It is ironic that Park Center scored the fewest goals, but had the league shots leader in senior midfielder Rachel Krambeer with 46. She converted seven times to lead the team.

Most of the team's experience was on defense or at midfield. The young newcomers were at the forward or midfield positions, such as eighth-grader Mary Krambeer and ninth-graders Keelie Sorenson, Nicole Ball, Sparky Therrien and Hannah Shafer.

Coach Sean McNattin said sophomore Liz Hemming emerged as a leader at midfield along with sophomore Allie Zeman.

The strong defense was paced by seniors Kristen Miller, Jenny Block, Bre Foote and Steph Ball, junior Jen Smith and sophomore Macy Leland.

Juniors Meghan Shafer, Rachel Nyquist and Kate Hansen have helped at forward.

Despite the low goal total, the Pirates have posted a winning season with the standout play of Zelinsky, a four-year starter in goal. "Jamie has come up with some amazing saves this season and is the best goalie I have seen in some time," said McNattin. "I am impressed with her shot blocking ability, her distribution and leadership."

Zelinsky said she could not understand how her teammates could not score in games when they looked so strong in practice against her. "I can't stop them most of the time," said Zelinsky about practice. "They are unbelievable shooters."

This was the first year Zelinsky did not play both soccer the basketball in the summer. She concentrated on basketball which she will likely play in college. Zelinsky has the school record for points scored in a girls basketball game with 37. She is thinking about playing at a Division 3 school where she would have more of a chance to play.

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Park Center Soccer Has New Boys Coach; Girls Are Still Building

	Senior captain Jamie Zelinsky returns to Park Center as the girls soccer goalie.

By Dave Pedersen * Sun Newspapers
Photo: Bill Jones * Sun Newspapers
(Created: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 10:16 PM CDT)

Webmaster's Note: The boys soccer information and girls schedule has been excluded from the article as seen below. To read the complete article online at Brooklyn Park Sun Post Sports Online  Click Here

The Park Center girls soccer team is looking to build off a successful 2005 season when it scored 27 goals in 18 games. Coach Sean McNattin's Pirates produced a .500 record, going 5-2-2 at home.

The Pirates return a number of key players who will provide an immediate impact. Senior Rachel Krambeer is a two-time captain. Last season, she scored 11 goals and seven assists, earning All-Conference and second team All-State honors.

The two other captains are three-time All-Conference winner Kristen Miller (defender) and goalie Jamie Zelinsky, who earned All-Conference honors twice.

Experience will be a strength of the team that has seven seniors and 13 of the 17 players have varsity playing time. Other returning players are senior defender Steph Ball, senior forward Jenny Block and sophomore midfielders Liz Heming and Allie Zeman.

"The number one goal this season is to win games," said McNattin. "In the past we strived to be competitive. This year we will do what it takes to get the result. Our motto for this year is preparation meets opportunity." McNattin has built the program up over the past five years and hopes all of the pieces can fit together to earn the team's "most productive season ever."

Park Center will have a tough schedule, especially in a Northwest Suburban Conference that features state powers Champlin Park, Coon Rapids and Maple Grove.



PC PIRATE GIRLS SOCCER 2006 COACHING STAFF

Sean McNattin - Pirate Girls Head Coach
Sean returns as Head Coach for Park Center Varsity Girls Soccer for the 2005 season.

During high school Sean played at Champlin Park where he earned All-Conference and All-Metro honors. He spent his college days at St. Olaf where he was a four-year starter and co-captain during his senior year. Sean earned First Team All-Conference and All-Midwest honors there. Sean continues to play competitive soccer in the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League.

Sean has been coaching soccer at all levels for eleven years. His coaching experience has included: competitive youth soccer, training camps, the Olympic Development Program, and high school. Coaching competitive youth teams, Sean has won the state championship once and has finished as the runner-up on two occasions. At the high school level, Sean coached JV for Park Center High School in 2001 and became the Varsity coach in 2002. In 2003, Sean was named Section 2AA “Coach of the Year.” This is Sean’s fourth season as the Varsity head coach.

Outside of soccer, Sean works for UnitedHealth Group in Golden Valley and lives in Dayton.

WELCOME BACK SEAN!

Cristina Egnell - Pirate Girls Assistant Coach
Cristina is starting her first season as a coach in the Park Center program. She is a 2002 graduate of Park Center, a former Team Captain and MVP, and a five-time soccer letter winner. Cristina went on to be a four-year starting defender for Bemidji State University Women's Soccer. During her collegiate career, Cristina was named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Defender, All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, ESPN Academic All-American, and served as a three-time Team Captain. Cristina's previous coaching experience includes coaching U-13 and U-14 youth soccer teams for the NW Kickers, working for 3 years as a Camp Coach for MN Thunder Soccer Camps, and coaching numerous camps and clinics at Bemidji State.

Cristina is currently student teaching in St. Paul to complete her Health & Physical Education degree from Bemidji State, expecting to finish in November.

WELCOME BACK TO PARK CENTER CRISTINA!

Amy Mossengren - Head Coach, Jr. Varsity
Amy returns to the Park Center program for her second year and is excited to be back. She spent her high school years playing soccer for Blaine. She has previous coaching experience at Spring Lake Park High School where she coached 9th Grade and Junior Varsity. She continues to play soccer recreationally on co-ed and women's teams.   

Amy is also a physical education teacher.

WELCOME BACK AMY!

Matt Lindstrom - Assistant
White Bear Lake native Matt Lindstrom captained his 1994 high school team and received All-Conference honors while leading his team to 2nd Place in the State Tournament. He continued playing soccer at St. Olaf College as a four-year starter and earned All-Conference honors while he captained the team his senior year.

During his collegiate career, Matt revived the St. Paul Rebels Soccer Club. He has been playing in the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League for over 10 years and is currently managing, coaching, and playing on a team with the Inferno Soccer Club.

Matt has helped out at Park Center for the last three years.

WELCOME BACK MATT!




PIRATE GIRLS NEWS ARCHIVES...
The selected news archives of Pirate Girls Soccer Team for the 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 seasons appear below...



PIRATE GIRLS SECTION 2AA ACADEMIC CHAMPIONS!
For the second year in a row, the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association has announced that the Park Center Girls Soccer Team are the "Academic Champions" of Section 2AA.

This award is given to the girls soccer team with the highest grade point average in the section. Other teams in Section 2AA include Maple Grove, Osseo, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Armstrong, Cooper and Patrick Henry.

Congratulations Pirates!



Pirate Girls Soccer Banquet and 2005 Awards
The Pirate Girls soccer banquet and awards ceremony for the 2005 season was held on Sunday, November 6th at the The Clubhouse at Edinborough in Brooklyn Park. Registration and social hour preceded a buffet dinner, including beverages and dessert, with an awards program following.

                Pirate Girls Soccer Banquet & Awards Ceremony
                Sunday, November 6th
                4:00 pm
                Clubhouse at Edinburgh
                Edinburgh Golf Course, Brooklyn Park
                (Map on Driving Directions page)

                Program
                4:00 pm - Registration/Socializing
                5:00 pm - Dinner
                6:00 pm - Recognition/Awards

                All players, parents, siblings & relatives were invited
                (Players received an invitation in the mail)

The following awards were awarded to Pirate players by coaches Amy Mossengren, Bridget Rodine, and Sean McNattin:

B Squad:

• Most Improved Player -- Chika Alaribe
  
• Pirate Award -- Katie Browning
  
• Coaches Award -- Katie Ekbom
  
• Most Valuable Player -- Rachel Vosberg