Having grown up in nearby Cambridge, Minn., Gophers senior Molly Rouse is one of the few in-state athletes who achieved their dream of playing for the 'U'. And like most of those local products, Rouse's dedication and hard work are what made it all possible.

"Molly is one of the most passionate players I have ever been around.  She is the ultimate example of what it means to train on your edge each and every day," Minnesota head coach Mikki Denney Wright said. "Molly gives every last drop to her teammates and our program and holds nothing back.   Her fire and competitive spirit fuel our entire team."

Rouse has appeared in every game since arriving on campus - the only Gophers student-athlete to hold the distinction of playing in all 65 games since the beginning of the 2007 campaign. In that span, she's racked up an impressive 34 career points (11 goals, 12 assists) while splitting time between midfield and forward.

As a freshman, Rouse patiently worked her way into the starting line-up, where she was a fixture for the last ten games of 2007. She was one of two Gophers (Katie Bethke) to make the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after recording seven points (two goals, three assists) in her first year with the program.

Rouse would continue to develop in her sophomore year when she more than doubled her scoring contributions from the previous year with 15 points (four goals, seven assists) and started in all 26 games in route to the Big Ten championship and an NCAA tournament berth. The 2008 campaign also showed Rouse's passion off the soccer field when the early elementary education major received her first of two Academic All-Big Ten honors.

Her junior season brought the same kind of success that Rouse had found in her first two years at Minnesota. After starting in all 20 games in 2009 and posting 12 points, the versatile student-athlete was named First Team All-Big Ten for the first time in her career while also earning the team's Midfield Most Valuable Player Award.

Now a senior in 2010, Rouse is one of seven seniors on a Gophers squad looking to recapture the conference championship and return to the NCAA tournament after a one-year layoff.

"As a leader, Molly has taught our program to never settle and to always hold ourselves to the highest standard," Denney Wright said. "I feel blessed to have the opportunity to coach Molly Rouse and I am grateful for all that she has taught me and our program."