For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release


 
BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato was picked by the league’s coaches to win the NSIC in the preseason poll. Since 2008 Minnesota State has been picked to win the league three times, including two of the last three years.

The Mavericks received seven first place votes and tallied 214 points, ranking them just ahead of Minnesota Duluth (206), which received six first place votes. Winona State also received two first place votes as they ranked third with 204 points. SMSU was fourth with 185 points and one first place vote.

The 2014 NSIC Soccer Regular Season Champion will be determined by a 15-game league schedule, with a win earning a team three points and a tie one point.

The 2014 NSIC Soccer season will see its first action on Friday, September 5 as non-conference play begins.

2014 NSIC Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1	Minnesota State (7)	214
2	Minnesota Duluth (6)	206
3	Winona State (2)	204
4	Southwest Minnesota State (1)	185
5	Upper Iowa	167
6	Bemidji State	150
7	Augustana College	139
8	Minot State	135
9	University of Mary	99
10	Northern State	97
11	St. Cloud State	89
12	Concordia-St. Paul	78
13	Minnesota Crookston	45
14	MSU Moorhead	40
15	Wayne State	38
16	Sioux Falls	34
	first place votes in ( )

NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
#19 Maureen Stormont
F, 5-9, Sr.,
Stillwater, Minn.
Stillwater HS
Minnesota Duluth


NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
#24  Breanna Steele
D,  5-6, Sr.,
Eagan, Minn.
Eagan HS
Minnesota State


Offensive Player to Watch
#10 Sarah Stram
(F, 5-4, So., Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove HS)
- Played in all 19 games and recorded 17 starts
- First on the team and ninth in NSIC with 19 points
- Shared the team lead in goals scores (7) and was tied for second on the team with five assists
- Was second among all NSIC freshman with seven goals
- Potted a pair of game-winning goals to sit second on the team
- Attempted 50 shots and put 24 of those shots on frame
- Recorded a career-high three points versus Wayne State

Defensive Player to Watch
 #14  Mari Wallestad
(D, 5-8, Sr., Ramsey, Minn. / Elk River HS)
- Started 18 of 19 games for the Beavers
- Played 1,662 minutes to rank 2nd on the team
- Was a key piece of a back line that posted eight shutouts and finished fifth in the league allowing 1.05 GPG
- Recorded a goal against Southwest Minnesota State (Oct. 5)
- Will serve as a captain in 2014

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Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.cugoldenbears.com/
Steve Bellis • Lancaster University ‘98 • 4th
W-L: 20-30-1, 17-25-1 NSIC
2013 Record: 5-13-0, 4-11-0 NSIC (12th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#4 Jess Bianchi
(M, 5-4, Jr., Rogers, Minn. / Rogers)
-NSIC All-Academic
-took a team-high 27 corners last season
-attempted 20 shots, eight on goal last year
-has started 31 games in two years at CU despite missing time with injuries
-finished fourth on the team with five goals and second on the team with four assists as a freshman

Defensive Player to Watch
#11 Rachel Gratz
(D, 5-6, Jr., Eagan, Minn / School of Environmental Studies)
-All-NSIC honorable mention
-NSIC All-Academic
-started all 16 games and played every minute on the back line for the Golden Bears last season
-has started every game in her Concordia career
-led a defense that allowed one goal or less in eight games
-has two career assists

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University of Mary Marauders (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.goumary.com
Sarah McNulty  • University of Mary ‘05 • 3rd
W-L: 14-18-4, 14-12-4 NSIC
2013 Record: 4-10-4, 4-7-4 NSIC (11th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#10 Andrea Muller
(F, 5-9, Sr., West Fargo, N.D. / West Fargo)
- Team captain in 2014
- Played in 54 of 56 games, starting 41 times
- She has scored ten goals in three seasons
- Lone goal last season was a game-winner
- Four game-winning goals in her career including 3 as a soph.
- Twice has scored the lone goal of the game in U-Mary 1-0 wins
- Twice named to the NSIC All-Academic Team

Defensive Player to Watch
#1 Shelby Buttron
(GK, 5-9, Sr., Olathe, Kan. / South)
  - Moved into a starting role in 2013 after two seasons as a reserve and played in 17 of 18 games
  - All-NSIC honorable mention honors in 2013
  - 1.78 goals against and 4 shutouts with a .767 save percentage
  - Was fourth in the NSIC in saves last season, fifth in saves per game (5.94) and eighth in shutouts
  - Recorded an assist last season
  - In three years she has a record of 6-10-4 with a 1.71 goals against average, a .770 save percentage and four shutouts.

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Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.goldeneaglesports.com
Joe Alianiello  • St. Francis (Pa.) • 3rd
W-L: 40-87-12, 4-22-5 NSIC
2013 Record: 3-11-4, 1-10-4 NSIC (t-14th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#12 Delaney McIntyre
(M, 5-3, Jr., Flin Flon, Manitoba / Hapnot Collegiate)
- Was tied for second on the team in points last year with a goal and two assists
- Appeared in 18 games with 16 starts in 2013
- Second on the team with 26 shots as a sophomore

Defensive Player to Watch
#8 Rachelle Alcini
(D, 5-6, Sr., Ann Arbor, Mich. / Dexter HS)
- Third-Team All-NSIC selection
- Anchored a back line that set a record for least goals against giving up just 25 in 2013
- Started all 18 games as a junior at center back.

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Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.umdbulldogs.com
Greg Cane • St. Scholastica ‘83 • 21st
W-L: 220-117-33, 107-25-8 NSIC
2013 Record: 17-5-1, 13-3-0 NSIC (t-3rd)

Offensive Player to Watch
#19 Maureen Stormont
(F, 5-9, Sr., Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater)
- An All-NSIC First Team selection
- 2013 NSCAA All-Central Region First Team -  2013 Daktronics All-Region Second Team
- Led the NSIC in scoring with a program-high 43 points and 18 goals
- Fourth all-time in points (93) and third in goals (39) at UMD
- Scored six postseason goals, including both in UMD’s 2-0 NCAA II Tournament win over Southwest Minnesota State
- Earned at least one point in all but seven games
- Named NSCAA Scholar All-American, Capital One Academic All-Central Region, an to NSIC All-Academic Team

Defensive Player to Watch
#12 Megan Helberg
D, 5-6, Sr., Lakeville, Minn. Centennial HS)
- All-NSIC Third Team selection
- Started all 41 games over the last two seasons
- Daktronics All-Central Region Third Team in 2013
- Netted first collegiate goal in a 4-0 victory over U-Mary in 2013
- Led defense that allowed 10.8 shots and 5.13 SOG per game 2013
- named to NSIC All-Academic Team

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Minnesota State Mavericks (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.msumavericks.com
Brian Bahl • Northern Iowa ‘05  • 2nd
W-L: 82-46-18, 51-25-15 NSIC
2013 Record: 17-3-2, 13-1-1 NSIC (1st)

Offensive Player to Watch
#13 Korey Kronforst
(F, Jr. Cary, Ill. / Cary Grove)
- Led the Maverick with 18 goals and seven assists for a total of 43 points.
- Was named the 2013 NSIC Offensive Player of the Year.
- Currently eighth on the all-time scorers list at MSU with 25 goals and ninth all-time in points with 58.
- First Maverick to receive a Daktronics All-American First Team honor in program history.

Defensive Player to Watch
#24 Breanna Steele
(F, Sr., Eagan, Minn. / Eagan)
- Named the MVP of the NSIC Tournament.
- Scored the game-tying goal in NSIC Tournament Championship game.
- Started all 20 games and logged 1,817 minutes of playing time.
- Was part of a defense that posted 11 shutouts last season.

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MSU Moorhead Dragons (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.msumdragons.com
Rollie Bulock • North Dakota ‘71 • 16th
W-L: 90-167-15, 45-91-11 NSIC
2013 Record: 0-17-0, 0-15-0 NSIC (16th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#7 Erin Nyberg
(F, 5-6, Sr., Tigard, Ore. / Tigard)
- Named to NSIC All-Conference Third Team the past two seasons
- Led Dragons with four goals and nine points.
- Also led team with 53 shots, including 24 on goal.
- Had two goals and four points in 4-3 loss to Upper Iowa (10/6/12).
- Named team MVP and offensive MVP.

Defensive Player to Watch
#0 Ashley Leintz
(GK, 5-10, Jr., Bismarck, N.D. / Century)
-Led NSIC with 10.14 saves per game.
-Led Dragons with 71 saves.
-finished fifth in NSIC with .835 save percentage.
-had a career-high 15 saves in 1-0 loss to Northern State (11/15/13).
-had five games with double-digit saves.

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Minot State Beavers (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.msubeavers.com
Jason Spain • Central Connecticut State • 5th
W-L: 43-27-8, 18-9-3 NSIC
2013 Record: 7-8-3, 7-6-2 NSIC (8th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#21 Emily Rebelo
(M, 5-8, Jr., Sacramento, Calif. / Natomas)
- Has seven goals and four assists for 18 points in her career, playing in 40 games in her first two seasons for the Beavers.
- Played in all 18 games, making seven starts in the midfield.
- Led the Beavers with 53 shots and was second on the team with 19 shots on goal and points with 10 (4G, 2A).
- Tied for the team lead in game-winning goals with two.
- In games where Rebelo scored a goal, MISU was a perfect 4-0.

Defensive Player to Watch
#3 Kelli Creese
 (D, 5-9, So., La Verne, Calif. / Bonita)
- Logged 1,531 minutes for the Beavers – second most on the team in 2013
– Started 14 of 18 games.
- 2013 All-Conference honorable mention
- Netter her first goal against MSU Moorhead (11/3), earning her first career game-winning goal as well.
- Helped the Beavers to a NSIC seventh-best 1.33 goals against average as a defenseman.

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Northern State Wolves (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.northernstatewolves.com
Steve Kehm • 17th Season
2013 Record: 8-8-2, 5-8-2 NSIC (10th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#12 Allie Macdonald
(F 5-6 Jr.  Hartford, S.D. / West Central HS)
-  Led NSU in goals (6), points (13), shots (46) and shots on goal (24)
-  Had a .522 shot on-goal percentage which was third on the team
-  Recorded three game-winning goals on the season
-  One of six Wolves to start all 18 matches
-  Played a total of 1,490 minutes

Defensive Player to Watch
#4 Amber Wanous
(D, 5-3, Jr., Anoka, Minn./Anoka)
- 2013 Honorable Mention All-NSIC
- One of six Wolves to start all 18 matches
- Second on the team playing 1,714 minutes
- Had 8 shots in 2013

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Sioux Falls Cougars (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.usfcougars.com
Mekonnen Afa  • National American ‘00 • 10th
W-L:  2-32-2, 2-27-2 NSIC
2013 Record: 2-15-1, 2-12-1 NSIC (t-14th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#10 Ciara Howerton
(M, 5-7, Sr., Independence, Mo. / Fort Osage)  
- Saw action in each of the Cougars 17 games, starting in 15 of those matches.
- Most minutes returning with 1484 minutes logged during the 2013 season
- Led Cougars in goals scored with three and assists with two
- Recorded 16 shots on goal and a SOG % of 0.571
- Recorded game winning goals in both of the Cougars victories during the 2013 season

Defensive Player to Watch
#15 Tionne Webb
(D, 5-5, Sr., Colorado Springs / The Classical Academy)  
- Recorded 1257 minutes
- Started in the15 games that she played in
- Scored one goal and recorded one assist
- Had five SOG and recorded a team high SOG % of 0.714
- Logged over 2600 minutes and has played in 48 out of 53 games

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SMSU Mustangs (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.smsumustangs.com
TJ Buchholz  • Northwestern  ‘99 • 4th Season
W-L: 28-24-4, 20-19-4 NSIC
2013 Record: 16-4-2, 11-2-2 NSIC (5th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#20 Miranda Cadena
(F, 5-3, Jr., Highland, Calif. / Redlands East Valley)
- led SMSU with 13 goals and six assists for 32 points
– first SMSU player since 2004 to score double figure goals in a single season.
- Daktronics Central Region Player of the Year
- First team All-NSIC honoree
- NSCAA All-American honors, becoming the first player in school history to earn All-American honors.
- Set a school single-season record with seven game-winning goals and begins the 2014 season ranked eighth in program history in both points (46) and goals (19).

Defensive Player to Watch
#31 Brienna Dehkes
(GK, 5-11, So., Ellk River, Minn. / Elk River)
- NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year honors a
- First team All-NSIC & All-Region honoree.
- Set SMSU single-season records with 15 wins, a goals against average of 0.69 and nine shutouts, while her .874 save percentage ranks second all-time.
- Record of 15-4-2 and allowed just 15 goals and made 104 saves.

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St. Cloud State Huskies (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.scsuhuskies.com
Gretta Arvesen • Creighton  ‘07 • 1st
W-L: 0-0, 0-0 NSIC
2013 Record: 10-7-1, 7-7-1  NSIC (9th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#18 Michelle Cornell
(M, 5-8, Jr., Waunakee, Wis. / Waunakee)
- Tied for team scoring lead in 2013 with five goals.
- Ranked third on team in 2013 with 10 points (5g).
- Gained All-NSIC Honorable Mention in 2013
- Listed on 2013 NSIC All-Academic roster
- Has scored eight goals in two seasons at SCSU.

Defensive Player to Watch
#19 Faith Bila
D/M, 5-8, Jr., Overland Park, Kan. / St. James)
- Named to 2013 NSIC All-Academic team.
- Charted two assists in 2013
- Has scored five assists in two seasons at SCSU
- Helped SCSU defense to a 1.78 goals allowed per game average in 2013.
.

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Upper Iowa Peacocks (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.upperiowaathletics.com
Brian Diaz  • Tusculum ‘02 • 2nd
W-L: 15-5-0, 12-3-0 NSIC
2013 Record: 15-5-0, 12-3-0 NSIC (t-3rd)

Offensive Player to Watch
#26 Aimee Wronski
(M/F, 5-5, Sr., Huntley, Ill. / Huntley)
- 2013 All-NSIC First Team, NSIC Newcomer of the Year, Daktronics All-Region First Team
- Led team with 15 goals, 6 assists, 36 points, 105 shots, 53 shots on goal and 8 game-winning goals
- Finished first in the NSIC in game-winning goals, third in total points
- Scored two goals in a game on five occasions
- Recorded at least one goal and one assist in five games
- Tallied 5 points at St. Cloud State on Sept. 22 and against Wayne State on Oct. 27

Defensive Player to Watch
#98 Kaitlyn Emanuel
(GK, 5-6, Jr., Byron, Minn. / Byron)
- NSIC All-Academic Team
- Two-time NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week
- Five shutouts, with an additional shared shutout
- Seventh in the conference in goals against average (1.16), save percentage (.804) and shutouts (5.1)
- 362-plus minute shutout streak across five games, including three consecutive shutouts from Sept. 22 through Oct. 6.

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Wayne State Wildcats (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.wscwildcats.com
Tom Cliff • Spring Arbor (Mich,) ‘03 • 2nd
W-L: 2-14-2, 2-11-2 NSIC
2013 Record: 2-14-2, 2-11-2 NSIC (13th)

Offensive Player to Watch
#3 Mallory Hoyt
(M, 5-5, Sr., Glenwood, Iowa / Glenwood)
- Three year starter, has started all 54 games in WSC career
- one goal on 12 shots with eight SOG last season
- two-time NSIC Fall All-Academic selection

Defensive Player to Watch
#21 Alex Mathers
(D, 5-7, Sr., Firth, Neb. / Norris)
- One of just four players to start all 18 games last season
- One assist on three shots in 2013
- Honorable mention selection to Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska women’s soccer team

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Winona State Warriors (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
www.winonastatewarriors.com
Ali Omar • Winona State ‘92 • 19th
W-L: 272-88-23, 158-16-7 NSIC
2013 Record: 15-4-3, 13-2-0 NSIC (2nd)

Offensive Player to Watch
#7 Mehan Bolton
(F, 5-5, Jr., Hugo, Minn./Mahtomedi)
- Played in all 22 games, while starting 14 in 2013
- Scored three goals while taking 29 shots
- Fourth on team with 16 shots on goal
- Recorded a pair of assists

Defensive Player to Watch
#2 Madalyn Jansen
(D, 5-6, Jr., Appleton, Wis. / Appleton)

- Started all 22 games in 2013
- Significant part of a Warrior defense that allowed just 14 goals on the year
- Named NSIC Defensive Player of the Week (10/28/13)
- Produced five shots on the season, with three on goal
- Logged the fourth-most minutes played on the team