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CT girls soccer player of the year: Lauren Gunderson, Middleton
More confident, more focused and more experienced, Lauren Gunderson followed up a state championship as a sophomore with two more impressive statistical seasons in goal for Middleton.
That wasn't an easy task.
The Cardinals conceded just 10 goals (seven by Gunderson) in 25 games en route to the 2006 WIAA Division 1 title and allowed 10 (three by Gunderson) in 24 games a year later. It was only a prelude to a dominating senior season.
She had a season shutout going through 13 games, ending the year with only four goals allowed while playing over 90 percent of the team's minutes.
Those eye-catching stats, fueled by a level of athleticism that separated her from many of her counterparts in prep girls soccer, netted her the state Player of the Year award by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association and a chance at an All-American spot.
"She certainly has incredible numbers and her performance certainly backs those up," Middleton coach Ken Burghy said. "She's a phenomenal goalkeeper, a great leader and really did everything she could possibly do to help us be in a position to win."
Gunderson was 16-1-4 with a 0.21 goals-against average and 12 solo shutouts for the Cardinals, whose season ended with an upset loss to Madison Memorial in the regional finals.
Burghy called Gunderson the most athletic goalkeeper he has ever seen in girls prep soccer. She's only 5-foot-8, but she makes it look easy when she leaps to tip shots away from the upper part of the goal.
Basketball experience -- she was an honorable mention all-Big Eight player as a senior -- plays a role in her quickness in the goal box.
"It probably wouldn't help as much for the field players, but a lot of the footwork I do and the eye-hand coordination (helps as a goalkeeper)," Gunderson said.
She has grown into the role of the organizer of the penalty area in front of her, and she plays like she owns the space -- the kind of swagger a goalkeeper needs.
She'll take that to the University of Wisconsin next season after a sometimes-nervous recruitment. Gunderson committed to former Badgers coach Dean Duerst but had to be re-recruited by new coach Paula Wilkins.
Burghy said he couldn't imagine Gunderson not getting at least some playing time as a freshman at UW, especially with what he called a gift of spatial relationships.
"Nothing gets over her," Burghy said. "She knows exactly what a ball is going to do in the air, how far she has to move and (has) great judgment. That's just the mark of a terrific athlete."
ALL-TIME WINNERS
2008 -- Lauren Gunderson, G,
Middleton
2007 -- Kristyn Gawin, MF, Middleton
2006 -- Kelli Bahr, D, Middleton
2005 -- Megan Strohm, D, Madison Memorial
2004 -- Katy Meuer, MF, Madison Memorial
2003 -- Emily Kintzer, F, Madison East
2002 -- no award
2001 -- Roz Klaas, F, Verona
2000 -- Jenny Kundert, MF, Madison West
1999 -- Jenny Kundert, MF, Madison West
1998 -- Jenny Kundert, MF, Madison West
Lauren Gunderson.
