22 Laura Knutson Class: Junior Hometown: Crystal Lake, Ill. High School: South Height: 5-10 Position: D Birthdate: 10/31/1988

2008 - Sophomore: Played in 20 games with seven starts ... Led the team with five assists on the season ... Had game-winning assist against Missouri ... Also had an assist against both Iowa State and Washington State ... Had game-winning assist against Michigan ... Scored first goal of season against Ohio State.

2007 - Freshman: Named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team ... Played in all 21 games of the season and started against Cal State Northridge as well as Purdue ... Netted her first career goal in a shutout against Xavier ... Continued to score three goals in a span of three consecutive games (Xavier, UCLA, Cal State Northridge) ... Finished second on the team in goals with five and tied for second with 11 points.

High School/Club: Led KUFC Premier to consecutive U.S. Club National Cup championship matches, winning the title in 2005 ... Arlington Heights Daily Herald Player of the Year in 2006 ... Also named all-sectional and All-Fox Valley Conference in 2006 ... Was an all-area, all-sectional and all-conference selection in 2004 as a freshman ... Led Crystal Lake South to FVC championships in soccer and basketball in 2006 ... Coached by Dwayne Cruz.

Personal: Born October 31, 1988 ... Majoring in kinesiology ... Daughter of Tom and Lynn Knutson ... Has an older sister, Michelle, and a younger brother, Ryan ... Member of National Honor Society, Gator Link, Gator Pride and WYSE.

Getting to Know Laura: Favorite Athlete: Michelle Akers ... Favorite Team: Chicago Bears ... Favorite Movie: Love Actually ... Favorite TV Show: Law and Order: SVU ... Favorite Band: Relient K ... Favorite Book: The Tortilla Curtain ... Favorite Food: Fajitas ... Favorite Pre-Game Meal: Pasta and water ... Dream Job: Coaching the top club soccer team in the nation.

Coach Rayfield on Knutson: "It was a spring of change for Laura and one that she embraced with excitement and commitment. A forward for most, if not all, of her soccer career we made the decision in the spring to convert her to a defender. Her ability in the air, her pace and physical strength and her determination in the box proved to be great tools to start with and her willingness to learn made the change smooth and successful. She can play centrally or out wide where her attacking experience can give us another back with the ability to attack. There is still some learning to do, but we have a great back in the making!"

KNUTSON'S CAREER STATISTICS

Year	GP-GS	G	A	P	GWG	Shots	SOG
2007	21-2	5	1	11	0	17	6
2008	20-7	1	5	7	0	3	1
TOTALS	41-9	6	6	18	0	20	7