ST. PAUL, Minn. - Joe Alianiello, head Concordia University soccer coach, has announced that two more student-athletes, Laura Gundersen and Kristine Loobeek, will join the CU soccer team next fall. This brings the size of the 2009 Golden Bear recruiting class to a total of nine.
Laura Gundersen is a 5-3 midfielder from Excelsior, Minn. who will be joining the Golden Bear program after spending a year at Trinity Christian College. She is a 2007 graduate of Southwest Christian High School, where she was a three-time soccer letterwinner. Gundersen was a two-time All-Conference First Team selection for the Stars, also being voted the team's best offensive player as a junior and MVP as a senior. She earned the Christian Character Award her senior season. Gundersen graduated high school with honors and has made the Dean's List at Trinity and at Concordia. She is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honor Society. Gunderson is a communication studies major and art minor at Concordia. She aims to become an art director or photographer.
"After a year away from the game, Laura is coming out this year as a Golden Bear and I'm very excited about that. Primarily a center midfielder, I look for Laura to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team," said head coach Alianiello of the newest Golden Bear.
Bringing a 5-10 frame to the Golden Bear midfield, Kristine Loobeek comes to Concordia from New Hope, Minn. and will graduate from Armstrong High School. Loobeek lettered twice in soccer for the Falcons, three times in basketball and five times in track. With her help, the Falcons placed fourth at the State Tournament in 2007. She was the MVP and captain of her track team, which took seventh at State last season. Loobeek has made the honor roll and is a member of the Spanish Honor Society. She plans on being a communications major at Concordia with the goal of becoming a journalist.
"Kristi can play as a holding or attacking center midfielder and will provide a strong presence in the middle," said Alianiello of Loobeek. "She hits a mean set piece and will add more depth to the center of the field for us."
