ERIE — Mani Brueckner is building the most productive career in Gannon University women's soccer history.

The Mars graduate is more interested in creating sustained success for the Golden Knights.

“The points are nice, the awards are nice, but I want a championship before I leave here ... maybe more than one,” the 5-foot-7 sophomore midfielder said.

For now, she'll have to settle for a 10-8-1 record, including a 1-0 upset of No. 2 seeded Slippery Rock for Gannon's first-ever PSAC Tournament win.

“It's her drive,” Gannon coach Colin Peterson said of the key to Brueckner's success. “She loves the game. She's here for her education, but she loves to play soccer, too.

“It's fantastic how everything has worked out.”

Brueckner carries a 3.98 grade-point average as an engineering major and has been an Academic All-American. She is two-time PSAC Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Year after leading the conference in scoring this year with 10 goals, 13 assists and 33 points.

With two years left to play, Brueckner has 20 goals, 26 assists and 66 points at Gannon. Her 26 career assists are already a school record and she stands third on the Knights' all-time career scoring list.

Knoch graduate Amanda Sharbaugh tops that list with 51 goals and 124 points. Erin Cray scored 34 goals and had 90 points.

“Mani is going to lead every offensive category here before she's done,” Peterson said.

The assist record is meaningful to Brueckner.

“I'm proud of that,” she said. “Setting up teammates is an important part of my game.

“I've been looking at that (record book) and it's in the back of my mind, but the efforts and success of the team belong first.”

Brueckner has always been about scoring and winning. A two-time Butler Eagle Girls Soccer Player of the Year, she tallied more than 80 goals and 90 assists in her prep career at Mars, which included a 36-goal, 42-assist season in a senior year that ended with the Planets capturing the state championship in 2011.

Mars was 49-1-1 over Brueckner's final two high school seasons.

“Getting used to the physicality is the biggest thing in jumping from high school soccer to college,” Brueckner said. “Right away, I could tell the difference.

“Technique has to be so much cleaner. You can't afford to make little mistakes.”

Peterson isn't surprised about Brueckner's productivity. He is amazed over how quickly it arrived at the collegiate level.

“There's no accounting for talent,” he said. “Athletically, Mani is very gifted. She's also very smart and mature. She's a remarkable kid, making the adjustments she's made.”

That includes from her freshman to sophomore seasons, as Brueckner has avoided the “sophomore jinx” that affects so many collegiate soccer players.

Freshmen come into a conference for the first time with a big scoring season as foes figure out how to defend them.

“That second year is much tougher on a scorer,” Peterson said. 'I spoke about that with Mani at the end of last year.

“The girl was double-teamed constantly this season. To her credit, she was still able to work herself free.”

Brueckner expected the extra attention.

“I anticipated it and was prepared for it,” she said. “Still, when you're on the field and you hear the opposing coach, 'Don't let No. 23 get the ball,' it can get a little frustrating.

“If I'm attracting too much attention, I'll move off to the side, take them with me and let my teammates play with the advantage. That's always a judgment call.”

Brueckner's decisions on the field have paid off so far.

“I don't see that changing,” Peterson said. “She's going to take over our records, 100 percent. Amanda Sharbaugh is a good family friend of ours and she's rooting for Mani.

“Amanda was so competitive as a player here and so is Mani. They have a similar skill set ... I see a lot of similarities between the two.”