2023 NSIC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

8/14/2023 10:00:00 AM

MINNESOTA STATE PICKED IN NSIC WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL

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BURNSVILLE, Minn. –  The  defending NSIC Regular Season Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason coaches’ poll. This marks the 11th time since re-joining the NSIC in 2008 that the Mavericks have been picked to win the league.

Minnesota State received eight first place votes and tallied 187 points, ranking them 10 points ahead of Augustana, which tallied 177 points and received four first place votes. The defending NSIC Tournament Champions of Bemidji State came in third with 170 points and two first place votes. Concordia-St. Paul was fourth with 147 points and the final first place vote.  The University of Mary rounded out the top five with 134 points.

The 2023 NSIC Soccer Regular Season Champion will be determined by a 14-match league schedule, with a win earning a team three points and a tie one point.

The 2023 NSIC Soccer season will see its first non-conference action on Thursday, August 31 with NSIC action beginning on Friday, September 15.  

The NSIC Tournament is scheduled for Monday, November 6, Friday, November 10 and Sunday, November 12. The top four seeds shall host for the first round, followed by the semifinal and championship rounds at the campus of the highest remaining seed of the four quarterfinal winners. 

PRESEASON PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

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#5 Allie Williams (MF, 5-6, Sr., Waukee, Iowa / Waukee HS) - Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Named to the All-NSIC First Team in 2022
  • Saw action in 20 of Minnesota States 22 matches
  • Was fourth on the team in goals and assists with five
  • Was second on the team in game winning goals with three
  • Recorded 15 points for the Mavericks and had 1004 minutes of playing time
  • Saw a season-high of two goals vs. Augustana and 88 minuets vs. Northwest Mo. State
Allie has been a phenomenal attacking threat in our program since her freshmen season. She is as crafty and creative on the ball as anyone I've seen. She also can be explosive with her on the ball pace and is a fantastic finisher. Allie is also a tremendous leader.
Head Coach Brian Bahl
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#2 Halle Peterson (D, 5-7, 5th, Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater Area HS) - Bemidji State University
  • United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team in 2022
  • D2CCA All-Region Second Team in 2022 
  • All-NSIC First Team in 2022 and 2021
  • NSIC All-Tournament Team in 2022
  • Played in 2,220 minutes, second most on the team, and played 96.1 percent of the team's minutes on the backline
  • Helped the Bemidji State backline that held opponents to just 16 goals over 25 matches 
  • Posted 15 shutouts during the regular and postseason, tied for second most in Division II
  • Helped the Beavers' backline hold opponents to just a .060 shot percentage
Halle is very driven. Her leadership is really powerful because she accepts responsibility and looks into the mirror first before pushing others. She brings experience to the table and a lot of it. She’s been on the mountain tops but been in the valleys too. We’re going to need that leadership as we are young. What she does on the field speaks for itself, she’s as good a defender as you’ll find, she’ll take the ball from you and then do something really good with it.
Head Coach Jim Stone

NSIC COACHES' QUOTES / PLAYERS TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

It seems very easy to be excited about our incoming 2023 team because of the capabilities of our athletes, the wisdom that they have gained, and also their competitive mentality that they have developed over this last year! In addition, our incoming players have proven to be extremely competitive and seem very driven to prove themselves and this could not be more exciting! As we work to maintain a calm level of expectations, we are exorbitantly excited and ready to take this program to new heights!
Head Coach Brandon Barkus
2023_NSIC_Soccer_PPTW_Augie
I am incredibly excited about Grace Douglas! She’s a fascinating example of hard work and determination and over these last four years she truly has gotten better! Her speed, grit and determination when she plays are a prime example of her special qualities. Her ability to create in the attacking third is really second to none! I anticipate Grace having an awesome senior year!
Head Coach Brandon Barkus
We will be returning Jillian for a fifth year and the expectations for her are high! Her experience and leadership on and off the field help shape her overall willingness to be great! We believe that her ability for us to build out of the back and also create quick counter attacking opportunities will be crucial to our success. She reads the game so well and understands the rhythm that our team plays with. I continue to believe that she will be extremely tough to get scored on, and I hope this will help lead the team to great success!
Head Coach Brandon Barkus

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

I think what really excites me about this team is the unknown. For the first time in a while, we have a bit of a blank canvas. We have an opportunity to experiment, tinker and perhaps make some progressive changes to push us forward. I’m very optimistic about how this next generation of players will shape our program and make that canvas into a beautiful picture. The known is talent & character. Our roster has plenty of those two qualities which is more than enough reason for excitement in 2023.
Head Coach Jim Stone
2023_NSIC_Soccer_PPTW_BSU
In addition to her natural touch and the ball almost being a part of her anatomy, I think what makes Maria so special is her mind and her vision. She has next level ideas about the game offensively; she sees things not as they are but as they could become and she has the skill to bring the vision to life. She’s a point guard who can shoot and has a work ethic that is second to none.
Head Coach Jim Stone
Halle is very driven. Her leadership is really powerful because she accepts responsibility and looks into the mirror first before pushing others. She brings experience to the table and a lot of it. She’s been on the mountain tops but been in the valleys too. We’re going to need that leadership as we are young. What she does on the field speaks for itself, she’s as good a defender as you’ll find, she’ll take the ball from you and then do something really good with it.
Head Coach Jim Stone

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

This year's squad is an excellent blend of youth, experience and hunger. We have a good amount of returning players in key spots that will give us a base to start from, with years of experience behind them to build upon. This older group have the drive to win games and desire to go much further this year. The youth of the side will provide the competition for places that is required to push players to higher standards and levels of play. It should be a fun group.
Head Coach Steve Bellis
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Katie is a natural goal scorer, she leads the line well, is difficult to mark and strong in 1v1 situations. Her experience in this league and at this level will stand her in good stead. Katie is a leader, has a great attitude to get better and is our pick for the NSIC Player of the Year.
Head Coach Steve Bellis
Tori is a smart, savvy and dominant center back. Her knowledge of the game is second to none and she communicates so well with her teammates. She is a wonderful leader of our team and is our pick for the Defensive player of the year.
Head Coach Steve Bellis

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

This year's group is eager to compete. They are full of gratitude for the opportunity ahead, and we have a stellar incoming class with a wealth of talent returning to lead us. I’m excited to see what we can achieve together, striving for greatness.
Head Coach Sarah Cook
2023_NSIC_Soccer_PPTW_UMary
Kendra is a hardworking player who leads by example. She works hard on and off the pitch in order to find success for the team. She’s caring, emphatic, and a great role model for youth in our community.
Head Coach Sarah Cook
Eli is a natural born leader. She has grit, drive and determination in all that she does. Eli is an awesome teammate and exemplifies an outstanding role model of a NCAA DII scholar-athlete.
Head Coach Sarah Cook

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

I am excited about Minnesota Crookston's team for the fall for two reasons. Firstly, we have a lot of new faces and I'm excited to help them on their journey. Secondly, I am looking forward to working with the returners on how we can make big steps forward with the program.
Head Coach Neil Mancktelow
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Sarah has worked really hard to get herself ready to build on her first season of college soccer. She has been active in the campus community and is part of several organizations that benefit the development of the student athlete experience.
Head Coach Neil Mancktelow
Jada has shown great resilience and determination to improve not only herself but also her teammates. She has been a good example of the type of student athlete that we are trying to help develop.
Head Coach Neil Mancktelow

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

We have a solid group of returners that have strong leadership ability, and they are hungry for a new season and another chance to make their marks. We feel we have strong depth across the field, starting in goal and working all the way up to our forwards. This season is very promising and this is a resilient group that is ready to get going, no question about it.
Head Coach Greg Cane
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Jackie led our team in scoring last season and has been named a captain because of her strong leadership skills. Jackie really leads by the way that she plays, which is very serious, athletic and a hard-nosed style of play and it's greatly respected by opponents.
Head Coach Greg Cane
Rachel really came into her own last season and was recognized as an all-conference player for it. She's very impactful on both sides of the field and her ability to influence on both ends can't be understated. She leads by example on the field, she works hard and brings another level of athleticism to our team.
Head Coach Greg Cane

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

On paper, this 2023 team is one of our more inexperienced groups from a minutes played standpoint. That said, we have a group that I believe is very talented and extremely hungry for the opportunity ahead of them. We possess all the pieces to have another phenomenal season. I'm excited to see this group grow and develop together this fall. They are a phenomenal group of young ladies that I believe will work together to accomplish big things. It should be a lot of fun and we can't wait to get started!
Head Coach Brian Bahl
2023_NSIC_Soccer_PPTW_MSU
Allie has been a phenomenal attacking threat in our program since her freshmen season. She is as crafty and creative on the ball as anyone I've seen. She also can be explosive with her on the ball pace and is a fantastic finisher. Allie is also a tremendous leader.
Head Coach Brian Bahl
Mack brings tremendous experience to the net for us and we will lean on her a lot, not only for her play in the goal but also for her leadership as well. She’s been with us for five years now and has already had a remarkable career. It’s been impressive to see her growth. She’s developed into one of the best goalkeepers in the entire nation and I believe she is poised to have a fantastic fifth year.
Head Coach Brian Bahl

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

We have a very large class of 10 seniors. They will bring wisdom and experience on and off the field. We are really excited to see what we can accomplish as a group.
Head Coach Christie Kopietz
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Jensen is a driven, dedicated Dragon soccer player. She had a tremendous freshman year and is looking forward to building on that going into her sophomore season.
Head Coach Christie Kopietz
Sara is an aggressive, intelligent Dragon soccer player. She puts her body on the line for her teammates and the program.
Head Coach Christie Kopietz

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

This 2023 team brings together a lot of great talent, hard work, and passion for the game. There is a great mixture of youth and experience that wants to compete and excel on and off the field. This group is strong, focused, and ready to build the connections necessary to be successful.
Head Coach TJ Perez
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Anabel is going into her senior season at Minot State. She is a corporate fitness/wellness management major, who teaches people in the community about health and fitness. Anabel truly loves the game and finds every opportunity she can to get on the field to play. She brings an energy and joy with her that others feed off of.
Head Coach TJ Perez
Rebecca is going into her sophomore year at Minot State. She is a biology major, who excels in the classroom. On the field, Rebecca is the epitome of effort. She pushes herself every day in training and encourages her teammates to reach new levels. She is a true leader who puts her team first.
Head Coach TJ Perez

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

This year's team has a senior class who has been through a great deal of change during their college careers. From having their freshmen year cancelled, to being able to progress our program through their grit and determination. Along with the seniors, we have a great returning group who consistently works as a team to pursue team goals. I believe we can continue to push our attacking output forward this season. Defensively, we will have some players stepping into new roles, and it will be exciting to see them apply what they have learned and for them to have a great impact on our program.
Head Coach Bob Casper
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Hannah is the model student-athlete for our program due to her exceptional work rate both in the classroom and on the field. Heading into the 2023 season we will look for Hannah to progress her performance to not only positively impact her actions on the field, but to spread influence to others around her. She has shown the ability to generate scoring chances for herself, so as she grows we are going to look for her to now add in setting up players around her. Defensively, she grew a lot in 2022 and can now look to help set the tone from match to match as she knows how to operate and influence the game from defense.
Head Coach Bob Casper
Alexus has been a very steady and reliable player for the past two seasons at Northern State. She has great training habits, and is a leader from the back. Heading into 2023, we will look for that same consistency from Alexus, while also expecting her to make a few positive adjustments on the defensive side of the game. She has great distribution and can flip the field quickly. Her instincts on crosses are a great asset as well. She was on the field for all 11 shutouts in 2022, which was a milestone achievement for a goalkeeper at Northern State. If she is able to be a part of a team that can come close or match that mark this season, then I would count that as a job done extremely well. She will come back ready to play, and ready to be focused on the process while also making sure she fits into the team system and goals.
Head Coach Bob Casper

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

We are really looking forward to the 2023 season. We saw a lot of growth in our players during the spring season and we are excited to see how that will translate this fall. We have important experience returning for our team on both sides of the ball. Combine that experience with some very exciting incoming freshmen and the determination of this group and we believe we can have a very strong fall.
Head Coach Brittany Domino
2023_NSIC_Soccer_PPTW_USF
Sarah is a really diverse attacking player who is coming off a strong fall and spring season for us. Last year a lot of our attacking play went directly through Sarah. We are excited to see how her game grows with the new talent around her. She is a player that brings joy to training and allows her teammates around her to bring that out in their game as well.
Head Coach Brittany Domino
Caroline will bring a lot of experience for our team in the goal this fall. She is a player that has the capabilities to keep our team in games when needed. She is not only a major contributor to our team defensively but she is also a threat in the attack with her passing accuracy out of the back. She has really grown in her role as a leader throughout this last year and we believe this will push her to have an even more successful junior season.
Head Coach Brittany Domino

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

It’s imperative that our players continue to develop and be leaders every day. I am excited to see our team leadership grow and the establishment of good meaningful relationships with each team member. I believe that this group is committed to upholding high standards every day. I am looking forward to us doing things at a high level and being consistent every day.
Head Coach Clay Glasgow
2023_NSIC_Soccer_PPTW_SMSU
I appreciate Dare’s defensive mindset to win the ball back and when she does, she is very dangerous on the attack with her shooting capabilities as well as her ability to read the game at a high level. She is very passionate about the sport and has a great positive influence on the team. Dare can make a meaningful impact this season.
Head Coach Clay Glasgow
Luckily for the conference, they haven’t seen Laney play the past few seasons due to unforeseen injuries. Laney’s ability to read the game and to make strong tactical decisions will make our back line successful this season. She has that fighting mentality to do whatever it takes to be successful on and off the field.
Head Coach Clay Glasgow

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

The 2023 season marks our program’s 30th year. We are thrilled for the opportunity to celebrate the past, present, and future of Huskies Soccer. We have three thoughtful team leaders: Jenna Dominguez, Gracie Parsons, and Juliana DaSilva. They are ready to put fresh standards in place. We’re hopeful the Women’s World Cup inspires our team to redefine our championship culture, play with passionate creativity and seize the opportunity to find a way together.
Head Coach Gretta Macdonald
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Ellie’s strengths derive from her innate work ethic and passionate competitive drive to improve. She expects her teammates to bring their best effort and finds ways to inspire them with her tenacious on the field presence. We’re hopeful Ellie will use her experience to make an immediate impact and elevate our championship culture.
Head Coach Gretta Macdonald
Rheana is a detail-oriented defender. Her love of the game inspires her creativity and problem solving. She is constantly looking for ways to deny opponents' momentum and she thrives under pressure. We’re hope Rheana will rise to a new leadership role in our backline and help us build championship consistency.
Head Coach Gretta Macdonald

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

I’m excited about this year’s team. This group made tremendous progress this past spring on and off the field. We have experience returning in every position on the field and will have depth in each position. This group is committed and hardworking and we can’t wait to see what the season holds.
Head Coach Emily Hester
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Annika is coming off an excellent 2022 fall season where she was a key contributor to our midfield and attack. She is consistent, competitive, and hardworking which helps contribute to our team being successful. Annika is also very dedicated to doing well in the classroom. We look forward to the impact she will have on our team this fall for her final season.
Head Coach Emily Hester
Hayden is a tremendous goalkeeper. Her presence in goal and her experience over the years at multiple levels will help our team be successful this fall. She is hardworking and competitive which will continue to help our team grow. I look forward to seeing the impact Hayden will have this fall for her final season with us.
Head Coach Emily Hester

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

This team has worked endlessly to create an identity and determine what kind of team we want to be. I think we've done a great job of keeping the fire lit and momentum going into this season. They put in the work and push each other to that next level. I'm excited to see everyone grow into their role and continue to surprise people.
Head Coach Jill Leibforth
2023_NSIC_Soccer_PPTW_WSU
Reanne is the ultimate competitor. Every day she brings a contagious energy to training and carries that energy into everything she does. While she has proven success on and off the field, the best aspect of Reanne's character is her instinct to lead by example and elevate those around her. Good day, or bad day, Reanne will make sure everyone around her crosses that finish line.
Head Coach Jill Leibforth
Callie is a workhorse. Plain and simple, Callie will find a way to give 100% to everything she does in all aspects of her life. Whether it means showing up early or staying late, she puts in the work needed to succeed. You won't find a more focused or bought-in individual.
Head Coach Jill Leibforth
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