ST. PAUL, Minn. – Throughout the duration of the spring semester, cspbears.com will feature its spring senior student-athletes who had their careers cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), providing a glimpse into their past, present and future to our followers who were unable to see them compete in 2020.
Due to the ongoing changing legislation with college athletics related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring student-athletes are expected to retain a year of eligibility. Some of the CSP seniors have expressed interest in returning for the 2020-21 academic year with the goal of competing for their full senior year. Since it's early in the process, cspbears.com will not differentiate between seniors who will and won't return and instead will profile each senior consistently.
The first member of the women's lacrosse team to be featured in the senior spotlight series is a four year starter,
Maddie Hentges, a biology major from New Brighton, Minnesota. A decorated award-winning student-athlete, Hentges was named All-GLIAC Second team as a sophomore, and GLIAC All-Tournament Team as a junior. She is a two-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team selection and was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team as a junior.
As a senior, Hentges had scored 12 goals in the team's first seven games, adding four assists to tie for second on the team with 16 points while also being tied for second on the team with 10 caused turnovers along with nine ground balls. She had helped the team to its first-ever national ranking, reaching as high as #14 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Top-20 and achieving the #25 ranking in the final IWLCA Division II Coaches Poll. She also helped the program record its first-ever win over a nationally-ranked opponent when she netted six goals in a 15-4 win over #14 Colorado Mesa as part of the program's best-ever 4-0 start and a school record 5-game home winning streak.
She has established career records for points (195), goals (145), assists (50), game-winning goals (8), man-up goals (10), man-down goals (4) and is tied for the record in games played, appearing in all 57 games while helping the program to a 31-26 record in its first four years.
Her 54 goals in 2019 as a junior are a program-high, her 66 points that year are second for a single-season and her 19 assists as a sophomore in 2018 are tied for second.
She has also made her mark with single-game records, tied for the record with 10 points as a sophomore at Northern Michigan (4/4/18) and the single-game goals record with nine in the same game.
Head coach Joe Nelson on Maddie Hentges:
"Maddie was one of the linchpins in our offensive set, had a nose for the net, and led by example during practice and games. She was a great teammate and friend, extremely personable with a smile we will miss!"
MADDIE HENTGES – IN HER OWN WORDS
CSP: At what age did you start playing your sport?
MH: In the eighth grade
CSP: Why did you choose to attend Concordia?
MH: To be a part of the inaugural season for women's lacrosse and the great science department
CSP: What is your favorite memory as a Golden Bear?
MH: Beating Lindenwood this fall and being nationally ranked this season
CSP: What will you miss most about CSP?
MH: My teammates and my friends in my classes
CSP: What are your plans after graduation?
MH: I am going to dental school at the University of Minnesota
CSP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
MH: Owning my own dental practice
CSP: Who is a staff or faculty member at Concordia that left an imprint on your experience?
MH: Tommy Mauer
CSP: Who is your role model?
MH: My aunt Carol
CSP: What life lessons did you learn as an athlete on your CSP team?
MH: Time management, leadership, taking accountability for my actions, and work ethic
CSP: What advice would you give to an incoming freshman about their time at CSP?
MH: Enjoy it and work hard because you never know when your last game may be
CSP: What CSP athlete from a different program do you admire and why?
MH: Louie Varland because he's the hardest worker and good at everything
CSP: Do you have a final personalized message you'd like to share with cspbears.com readers?
MH: Thanks for all the support over the years!
