Kristina Santaga: Driven to Boston

This article appeared originally on Edgewood.edu and is reproduced for our Eagle fans here. Enjoy!

There may be a challenge out there that Kristina Santaga ’13 isn’t capable of meeting, we’re just not sure what it is.
The Green Bay native graduated with a BS in Biology in 2013. She was two-sport athlete – soccer and track & field – and today she’s in the College’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

On Monday, April 14, she was among the thousands of runners in the Boston Marathon. This year marked the first Boston Marathon since a terrorists’ attack near the finish line in 2013.

“I had so many of my fellow nursing students follow my run and text me before and after my race,” she says. “It was such an amazing experience to be there this year, so inspiring.”

“I ran proudly in an Edgewood College jersey and heard the crowd yell ‘go Eagles’ throughout my race. Being cheered as an Edgewood Eagle means a lot to me and helped me when it got tough,” she says.

“I kept thinking that, without Edgewood College and the wonderful professors, coaches, and staff, I wouldn’t be so driven to follow my passions. The compassionate, encouraging, welcoming, and spiritual atmosphere at the Boston Marathon reminded me of the Edgewood College atmosphere every day I arrive on campus.” 

Podcast: 2013 Eagle women's soccer season review

The 2013 Edgewood College women's soccer team won their first conference title since 2006, for their 10th conference title in history. The Eagles advanced all the way to the NACC Tournament championship match. Listen as head coach Tim Alexander talks about the 2013 team.

2013 Women's Soccer review:


Direct link

#Tweagles Talk: Moe Baemmert

For #Tweagles Talk we try to pick Eagle student-athletes that make us laugh. This tweet sealed the deal for Moe Baemmert. One we read that, we knew we had to ask. Moe has a private account thought, so you'll have to ask really nicely if you want to see gems like these...

Moe Baemmert (Soccer) - @MoeBFierce

1,459 Tweets / 225 Following / 190 Followers

Q. What is your Twitter handle and how did you come up with it?

A: My twitter handle is @moeBfierce. I am in love with Beyonce (@Beyonce), who is also known as Sasha Fierce, so that is why I had to throw fierce in my twitter name.

Q. How often do you check Twitter?

A: Too much... probably once every hour. 

Q. What would you say is your average number of Tweets?

A: When I am feeling very creative, I tweet about two to three times a day. 

Q. Which of your teammates has the best Tweets and why?

A: Hailey Boyle (@hailbeee) has some of the best tweets. They always find a way to make me laugh and really find a way into my heart. Oh and Katie Pampuch's twitter (@ktpampuch) is a great one to follow because she is so indecisive about her first tweet that she will delete it every time.   

Q. The people I follow in soccer are…

A: I follow Jennie Dailey (@JennieDailey5), Lindsay Kloppenburg (@lindslouklopp), Olivia Bunz (@OliviaBunz), Megan Falk (@MFalk5), Emily Dorsett (@EmDors), Hailey Boyle (@hailbeee), Z Cordova (@ZenaidaCordova), Caitlin Clifford (@cait_cliff13), and Katie Pampuch (@ktpampuch). 

Q. Someone who you wouldn’t think I follow is…

A: The Rapignome (@Rapignome)... It is Megan Rapinoe's gnome that follows her around on the US Women's National Soccer Team. 

Q. The people whose tweets you can’t miss…

A: are my roommate and fellow fitness center employee Sabrina Aiello (@SabrinaAiello2).

Q. I wish _____ was on Twitter.

A: Tori Fortney

Q. What Edgewood College coach or athlete do you wish was on Twitter?

A: I 100% wish that Coach Tim Alexander would have a twitter. In fact, we might have to make him get one in time for next season. 

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2012 Men's and Women's Soccer Reviews

Head Coach Tim Alexander talks about the 2012 soccer season. The women's team finished 15-4-1 and advanced to the NAC Tournament Championship where they fell to Aurora University. The men's team finished the season 9-7-1 overall and made it to the first round of the NAC Tournament, but fell to MSOE.

2012 Men's Soccer Review:


2012 Women's Soccer Review:

2011 Men's & Women's Soccer Reviews

Edgewood College men's and women's soccer coach Tim Alexander sits down to discuss the 2011 soccer seasons. The Eagles' women's team placed third in the Northern Athletics Conference this season with a 14-5-1 record. The men's team went 8-7-3 and returned to the NAC Tournament after missing out on the postseason last year.

Women's Soccer 2011 Review:


Men's Soccer 2011 Review:

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Breese Stevens press box being built!

Tom Maglio from the City of Madison passed along these pictures of the new Breese Stevens Field press box under construction. JW Industries of Green Bay is building the press box in their factory. It will then be dismantled and shipped to Madison for installation by Joe Daniels Construction. Everyone is very happy at the upgrade to Breese Stevens, but the Athletic Communications staff at Edgewood College is positively ecstatic. Thanks to Tom, the City of Madison and the construction companies for getting it done!

 

O'Dell, Cordova give back on Miracle Field

Edgewood College baseball player Ryan O'Dell is serving children with disabilities this summer by managing Miracle Field in Roselle, Ill. He and 20-30 volunteers, including Eagle women's soccer player Zenaida Cordova, meet every Monday night in the summer to help kids with disabilities learn the joys of baseball, teammwork and inclusion. Read Ryan's summary of Miracle Field below... 




O'Dell (in green shirt) cheers on a Miracle Field player

 "The program I have been in charge of is called Miracle Field. Throughout the early spring I was in charge of spreading the word about the program as well as finding 20-30 volunteers. The 20 volunteers include ex-baseball players from my high school, St. Charles East, as well as others who found out about the program and just wanted to help. Zenaida Cordova who plays on the Edgewood College Women's soccer team also helps volunteer.

For eight Monday nights this summer we meet at Miracle Field in Roselle, Ill. and for two hours help teach/play baseball with children who have disabilities. Their ages are from 5-13 and their disabilities range from down syndrome to mentally challenged. Every player is paired with a "buddy" or volunteer and they stay together through out the eight weeks. When we get to the field, we meet for 10 minutes with our buddy and ask them how their week was, etc. Then we'll gather on the field and stretch. Next we try and work on basic fundamentals that can improve their overall flexibility and hand-eye coordination. These include fielding a soft ball that is rolled to them, throwing the ball back to a buddy, or running the bases. After that, it is time to play ball.

Cordova instructs her Miracle Field buddy

The players are separated into two teams and while one team is hitting the other are at their positions in the field. The team who is hitting walks one-by-one up to the plate and hits a soft ball off a tee and run to first base while the other team fields it. Base runners may only move up a base at a time and there are no outs. Often times before the ball is hit we will call out to the fielders what base the ball should be thrown to, which also helps with their concentration. The last batter to hit runs all the way around the bases for "home run". Then the teams flip from field to hitting. The games usually last 3 full innings.

Miracle Field itself is something special. Donated by the Chicago White Sox, it is a scaled down replica of their stadium. Complete with lights, a soft rubber coating turf, and dugouts, not only does it offer the players a special night game but is also safe for everyone and is wheelchair proof.

Currently, Miracle Field has been a great thing with a great turnout as well as the volunteers who have worked with the kids. My next job will be to meet with several sponsors/marketers in hopes of spreading the word and taking the program to more places for next summer. On July 25th there will be an open house, anyone who is interested can come stop by and see the program in action."

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Svjose tallies first goal in nine years

MADISON, Wis. - Talk about a lengthy scoring drought. Edgewood College women’s soccer player Erica Sjvose scored her first goal for the Eagles in nine years, when she tallied a first half goal against Concordia University Chicago on Saturday. She last scored as a freshman during the 2001 season.

Svjose, a Madison native and 2001 graduate of LaFollette High School, played for Edgewood College in 2001, scoring eight goals as the Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. She left school after that season and spent the next seven years working on a career, but the soccer bug never completely left her.

In 2009, Svjose (pronounced sa-VOICE) contacted head coach Tim Alexander and said she wanted to return to school. She told him she would come to Edgewood College if she could have the chance to play soccer again. Coach Alexander agreed and Svjose was back on the team in 2009 after eight years away from the school. Sjvose, now 27 years old, played in 15 games in 2009 and three this season, but never found the back of the net until Saturday.

In the 41st minute against the Cougars, Eagle freshman Sophie Rodriguez (who just turned 19 years old earlier this month) fired a shot that was knocked down on the goal line by a Cougar defender. The rebound landed on the foot of Svjose, who fired it home for her first goal in 3,264 days. She last scored on October 19, 2001 against MSOE. Svjose later added two assists to give her three for the season.

Svjose and the Eagles will return to action on Wednesday afternoon, with a non-conference match at Lawrence University in Appleton.

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Alexander milestone noted by Soccer America

Soccer America which publishes the College Soccer Reporter newsletter made special mention of Edgewood College head men's and women's soccer coach Tim Alexander for earning his 200th men's soccer victory.

Alexander joins 200-200 coaching club (courtesy of SoccerAmerica.com)

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Alumni Soccer Games Photo Galleries

Huge photo gallery from the Alumni Soccer Games on August 28...

http://www.edgewoodcollegeeagles.com/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=61

Enjoy!

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Eagle Soccer to be featured on NBC-15

Catch the sports broadcast on NBC-15 (WMTV) at 6:00 and 10:00 on Tuesday night for a feature story on the Edgewood College men's and women's soccer teams and their head coach Tim Alexander. Coach Alexander needs one more men's soccer victory to become only the fifth head coach in NCAA history (all divisions) to win 200 men's games and 200 women's games.

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Women's soccer getting ready to go!

The Edgewood College women's soccer team runs through a drill in preparation for their season opener on September 1, 2010.

Five Questions: Kelsey Beck

I know it's been a while, but Five Questions returns with a surprise attack on women's soccer player Kelsey Beck...

Listen to Coach Alexander on the Big 1070

Edgewood College head men's and women's soccer coach Tim Alexander will be appearing on the "Mike Heller Show" on Friday on the Big 1070 (1070 AM) and the Big1070.com. Host Mike Heller along with Jon Arias and Phil Dawson will talk to Coach Alexander to get his preview of the 2010 World Cup which begins Friday. Tim is scheduled to appear on Friday, June 11 at 5:25 p.m. If you don't live in the Madison area, you can listen on-line at the link below....

The Big 1070 Listen Live Online

The Mike Heller Show on the Big 1070

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New soccer photo galleries posted

Two new E-NOR-MOUS photo galleries from the Eagles' men's and women's soccer matches against Wisconsin Lutheran College are posted on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com. Photographer Todd K. Olsen supplied his whole aresenal. Enjoy!

Edgewood College Photo Galleries

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Feature story on Tim Alexander

Wednesday's edition of the Capital Times contains a feature story about Tim Alexander, who is approaching his 200th win as Edgewood College's men's soccer coach. Alexander will become just the fifth coach in NCAA history to win 200 men's soccer games and 200 women's soccer games. The story also appears on Madison.com. The link is found below.

Edgewood College's soccer coach on verge of milestone win (by Matt Fox, Madison.com)

Women's Soccer Alumni Photo Gallery

I've added a huge gallery of the women's soccer alumni game from the previous weekend, thanks to Mr. Berg.

2009 Women's Soccer Alumni Game Photo Gallery

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Soccer photo galleries posted

Photo galleries from Edgewood College's season opening matches are now posted on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com and Facebook. Enjoy!

EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com Photo Galleries

Edgewood College Eagles Facebook page

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Featured Soccer Alumnus: Rachel Klos

Head men's and women's soccer coach Tim Alexander, includes profiles of Alumni in his periodical newsletter. We're happy to share those profiles here on the Eagle Blog:

Rachel Klos
Born: Madison, Wis.
High School: LaFollette High School
Edgewood College Degree: BS – Major in Biology, 1999
UW School of Veterinary: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine 2004
UW School of Medicine and Public Health: Masters in Public Health

I didn’t realize that you could have so many degrees. Congratulations to Rachel for her hard work and getting her degrees.

Rachel’s Roommates in College
-Connie O’Brien (Nelson)
-Molly Naughton (Romano) (That Romano guy could eat a lot)
-Tanya Kramer
-Kate Zomboracz (Lubchansky)
-Katie Hughes (Stevens)

What a great group of girls (women). They will always be younger than me but they do grow up.

Rachel says they were the ABSOLUTE BEST roommates anyone could have. They lived on Drake Street (they did hills just getting into that house)for three fabulous years, and they only had one shower for the five of them. They all keep in touch and are there for each other.

Rachel’s first job was trying to convince me why Democrats are good for the country and I should vote for Clinton. Well that didn’t work so she went on to spend five years in school after graduating so Rachel is still trying to figure out what her first job really was. She has been working at the Wisconsin Division of Public Health since 2006 and is presently an epidemiologist (what the heck is that) in the Bureau of Communicable Diseases and works on food and waterborne outbreak investigations. (Rachel, can you give us your take on the Swine Flu, are we okay?)

I think we went through this with Scott Mejia but Rachel says she didn’t have a single best memory but what was important to her was her playing soccer and meeting her roommates and sharing the years with them. She did keep me awake while driving the bus talking about politics and she thought she could teach me new tricks but as Rachel says “you can’t teach a OLD DOG new tricks”.

Alumni Game Appearances: a few (can’t turn down playing at Breese)

Rachel is still playing soccer during the winter and outside during the summer (should take up golf like me Rachel easier on the body) and gets to play against the players who play for the Eagles now.

The best place that Rachel has traveled to is Bangledesh and she traveled with a group of veterinaries. They went to work with the local dairy farmers and veterinaries. Rachel says “it was truly an amazing experience and changed her life.” It changed Her life but she still votes Democratic.

I want to thank Rachel for giving us all of this information. Remember that the Alumni games will be Saturday August 29th. Mark your calendars even though you can’t play we would like as many alumni to return as possible.

I would like to ask all of you if to give me ideas of someone who I should highlight for June. I will be trying to do one player each month and switching the gender each month.

Thanks for all you have done for the Eagle Soccer program and also the Eagle Athletic
Department.

Featured Soccer Alumnus: Scott Mejia

Head men's and women's soccer coach Tim Alexander, includes profiles of Alumni in his periodical newsletter. We're happy to share those profiles here on the Eagle Blog:

Scott was the son of Hugo and Karen Mejia and was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Scott was married to Jennifer in 2002. They were married in Rochester, Minn. Scott and Jennifer have two sons Dylan (5) and Braeden (2).

In 1991, Scott graduated from Klamath Union High School, in 1995 graduated from Edgewood College with a degree in English with a writing concentration and received his Masters from Western Illinois University in 2008 with a degree in Sports Management.

Scott had three roommates while at Edgewood, Dan Gibson, Jeff Ornes and Michelle Repta.
I asked Scott to tell me about a story but he said he didn’t have any he could share with all of us. I do remember Scott telling me about an episode of Dan (Gibby) Gibson on the tree outside there apartment.

Scott played for Edgewood during the 1993, 1994 and 1995 seasons:

Statistics during Scott’s playing days:
1993 - 15 Games, 6 Goals, 2 Assists, 14 Points, 1st Team LMC
1994 - 23 Games (tied for 1st all-time) , 12 Goals (10th all-time), 3 Assists, 27 Points (ranks 10th all-time), 1st Team LMC, All-Region Team
1995 - 20 Games, 1 Goal, 4 Assists, 6 Points, 1st Team LMC, All Region Team
19 Total Goals ranks 9th All Time

Scott said “I am most proud of being selected to the NCAA All-Region Team”

After college Scott’s first full time job was working with Ameritech and his part time job was working the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Edgewood College. In 1999, Scott became the head men’s and women’s coach at Lakeland College where he turned Lakeland into a winner. In 2001, Scott moved on to Augustana College as the head men’s and women’s soccer coach and then in 2007 Scott gave up the men’s program to fully direct the women’s program and also is a Instructor for Physical Education at Augustana College. Scott is also the coaching director for Quad Cities United and has been for the past three years.

Scott’s best memories at Edgewood College were winning the LMC Conference Tournament his senior year and going to Guatemala for a Human Issues Study with Peter Fabian.

Scott has played in two Alumni Games and feels that he was the MVP of both Games (something I am sure Nate Brawner would argue over).