September 27, 2004
(Release courtesy of Dave Blanchard, Luther College sports information director)

DECORAH, IOWA . . . Katie Pettigrew, a senior forward on the Luther College women’s soccer team, has set the NCAA Division III records for career goals and career points.

Pettigrew, who led the nation in points per game (4.32) and goals per game (1.79) in 2003, established the new records despite being diagnosed with pneumonia. Entering the final regular-season match of the season, Pettigrew needed to score three goals against league opponent Buena Vista University to tie the NCAA Division III record of 121 career goals set by Jessica Brooks of Meredith College (Raleigh, N.C.) in 1998. The match was played in front of a home crowd on Oct. 30. With weather conditions less than ideal—wind blowing at up to gusts of 30 mph and the temperature in the upper 40s—Pettigrew entered the contest feeling ill.

At the conclusion of the first half, Luther had a 1-0 lead, but Pettigrew was still three goals away from tying the record. “After we had our halftime talk, I went over and sat on our bench and was just feeling awful,” stated Pettigrew. “As I was sitting there, I said to myself, ‘How will you feel five or 10 years from now if you got this close to the record and you did not at least tie it?’ Then my assistant coach Julie Shockey came over and told me not to worry about the record and just go out there and play like I have my entire career. She also told me that what I had accomplished already was amazing so I should not put any undue pressure on myself. That was all I needed. I decided to forget how sick I felt and just play as hard as I could and something good would happen.”

In that final period, Pettigrew unleashed a barrage of shots on goal, scoring three times and leading the Norse to an impressive 5-0 victory. The win also secured the 2004 Iowa Conference championship, the third in school history and the first for Luther since 1998. “When I scored that third goal, the ball rolled in like it was in slow motion. When it reached the net, it felt like I had this huge elephant jump off my back,” stated Pettigrew, not only the greatest soccer player ever to wear a Norse uniform but also a six-time national meet qualifier in track and field and three-time All-American in the triple jump. “It did not really hit me until that moment just how much pressure I had felt.”

Two days later, Pettigrew was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was not able to work out the entire week as Luther prepared for the Iowa Conference Tournament, held Nov. 5-6 at Buena Vista University.

Despite missing a week of practice, Pettigrew added three more goals to her already impressive total during the conference tournament, leading the Norse to within one goal of qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the first time in school history.

Pettigrew completed her collegiate soccer career with 124 goals, breaking Brooks’s NCAA Division III record by three goals.

For Pettigrew, being remembered as a complete player is more important than setting national records. “I hope that when people look back on my career, they will remember me as a complete player and not just someone who set the NCAA III record for goals,” stated Pettigrew. “I would never have been able to accomplish the things I have individually without great teammates. Soccer requires a complete team effort, and during my four years, we have been very successful as a team.” During her four years, Luther amassed an overall record of 59-18-5, 29-2-2 in the Iowa Conference.

One need only look at Pettigrew’s NCAA III record for career points (297) to understand just how good a soccer player she is. Her 49 career assists is not only a Luther College school record, but also ranks her 19th in this category in the Division III record books.

“We have had a lot of wonderful players here at Luther the past 15 years, but there is no doubt Katie is special, stated head coach Doug Mello. “During her entire career she has exemplified what is good in athletics. She spent most of her career facing double teams and sometimes negative tactics where teams would attempt to take her off her game. She never reacted in a negative manner and if fact it caused her game to blossom. If she got knocked to the ground, she would get up and continue to play. Katie leading by example is an under statement. From the first time she stepped on the soccer field for us, she would do anything it took, including playing midfield defense, to win matches. That will to win is what is going to be so hard to replace.”

With her soccer career over, Pettigrew will have a couple of months off before the indoor track and field season begins and she begins her quest for another All-American honors in the triple jump. Knowing Katie, two weeks or probably more accurate, two days off is probably more realistic.

Pettigrew, a 2001 graduate of Farmington (N.M.) High School, is the daughter of Ed and Barbara Pettigrew of Farmington.

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