For Immediate Release
Monday, October 19, 2026
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#6 Dina Polanco (M, 5-1, So., Guatemala / Andrews Osborne Academy) - University of Mary
- Scored three goals, including both game winners in a 2-0 weekend
- Recorded a game-winning goal in a 2-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State
- Scored both goals in a 2-1 comeback win over Sioux Falls
- Leads the NSIC in goals (11), game-winning goals (6), and points (23)

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#19 Reese Zediker (D, 5-11, Jr., Caledonia, Ill. / Rockford Guilford HS) - St. Cloud State
- Helped anchor the SCSU defense in wins over Minnesota Crookston and MSU Moorhead
- Helped limit opponents to just three combined shots on goal over the weekend
- Played 90 minutes against Minnesota Crookston and 72 minutes against MSU Moorhead
- Scored a goal on a header off a corner kick for her second career goal
- Helped St. Cloud State extend its shutout streak to three matches

NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week
#0 Lauren McAlpine (GK, 5-8, Sr., Shoreview, Minn. / Moundsview) – Minnesota State
- Recorded two shutout wins recording five saves 
- Made one save in a 5-0 win over MSU Moorhead
- Added fours saves in a 7-0 win over Minnesota Crookston
- Tied for the NSIC lead with 2.0 shutouts on the week
- Increased her season total to 13 shutouts, tied for the Division II lead
- Named NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week for the third time this season (9/8/26 & 10/12/26)

Others Under Consideration
OFFENSE
Madelyn White (Augustana)
- Scored 2 goals and recorded 2 assists during the weekend
- Tallied 6 points across two matches
- Scored a goal against Northern State
- Recorded a goal and 2 assists in a 3-0 win over Jamestown
- Finished the weekend with 5 shots on goal
Sydney Sutherland (Bemidji State)
- Recorded an assist in both matches as Bemidji State went 1-0-1
- Assisted on the first goal in a win over Winona State
- Added an assist in a draw against Concordia-St. Paul
- Finished the weekend with 2 assists and 2 points
- Led the Beavers with 5 shots and 3 shots on goal
- Accounted for 2 of Bemidji State’s 3 assists during the weekend
Sophia Haase (Concordia-St. Paul)
- Led the Golden Bears with 3 goals in a 1-0-1 week
- Scored 2 goals in a win over Minnesota Duluth
- Scored the game-tying penalty-kick goal against Bemidji State
- Tied the program’s single-season scoring record with 13 goals
- Led CSP with 7 shots and 6 shots on goal
Amara Smith (Minnesota State)
- Scored 2 goals and added 2 assists across two victories
- Recorded a goal and 2 assists in a 5-0 win over MSU Moorhead
- Added a goal in a 7-0 win over Minnesota Crookston
- Ranks among the NSIC leaders in goals and assists this season
Iliana Rivera (Minot State)
- Recorded 2 goals and 2 assists during a 2-0 weekend
- Assisted on the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Sioux Falls
- Scored 2 goals and added an assist in a 5-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State
- Recorded the first multi-goal game of her collegiate career
- Finished the weekend with 6 points
Jaylee Hofer (Northern State)
- Scored 1 goal on 4 shots, including 2 shots on goal
- Led the Wolves in goals, shots, and shots on goal
- Scored the game-winning goal against Wayne State
- Logged 136 minutes across two matches
Darby Allen (St. Cloud State)
- Led the Huskies with 1 goal and 3 assists for 5 points
- Recorded an assist in a win over Minnesota Crookston
- Factored in 3 goals during a win over MSU Moorhead with a goal and 2 assists
- Recorded at least one assist for the fourth time in five matches
- Leads the NSIC in assists this season
Olivia Thompson (Wayne State)
- Scored 2 goals during road matches at Jamestown and Northern State
- Scored her third goal of the season in a win over Jamestown
- Recorded Wayne State’s lone goal in a match against Northern State
- Put all 4 of her shots on goal during the weekend

DEFENSE
Ivy Wessel (UMary)
- Scored the goal that clinched a 2-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State
- Played all 90 minutes as UMary held SMSU to 2 shots and no shots on goal
- Played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Sioux Falls
- Helped limit Sioux Falls to 8 shots and 3 shots on goal
- Helped UMary extend its unbeaten streak to 10 matches
- Helped the Marauders allow only 10 shots and 3 shots on target across two matches
Elsa Duquesne (Minot State)
- Scored a goal and added an assist during a 2-0 weekend
- Scored her second goal of the season on a second-half free kick in a win over Southwest Min-nesota State
- Helped Minot State post two shutout victories
Lauren Youngquist (Northern State)
- Played all 180 minutes across two victories
- Recorded an assist in a win over Wayne State
- Helped limit Wayne State to 4 shots and 3 shots on goal
- Anchored a defense that earned two victories on the weekend

GOALKEEPER
Sydney Potter (Concordia-St. Paul)
- Posted a 1-0-1 record with 1 shutout
- Led the Golden Bears with 9 saves
- Made 6 saves in a shutout win over Minnesota Duluth
- Added 3 saves in a draw against Bemidji State
Jayen Alger (Minot State)
- Recorded her first collegiate shutout in a 1-0 win over Sioux Falls
- Made five saves, matching a career high
- Earned the first win of her collegiate career
Audrey Burns (Northern State)
- Started both matches and logged 135 minutes in goal
- Recorded 8 saves while allowing just 1 goal
- Made 6 saves and posted a shutout against Augustana
- Helped Northern State earn two victories during the weekend
Zoe Fujino (St. Cloud State)
- Recorded back-to-back shutouts against Minnesota Crookston and MSU Moorhead
- Made 3 total saves across the two matches
- Extended her shutout streak to 3 consecutive games
- Earned her first 3 career shutouts
- Has allowed just 1 goal in her last 4 starts

2026 NSIC Soccer Players of the Week
8/31/26
O: #9 Meghan Przybilla - Minnesota State
D: #3 Ivy Wessel - University of Mary 
GK: #99 Phoenix DeBrusk - Minnesota Crookston
9/8/26
O: #17 Sophia Haase - Concordia-St. Paul
D: #24 Elsa Duquesne - Minot State
GK: #0 Lauren McAlpine - Minnesota State
9/14/26
O: #17 Sophia Haase - Concordia-St. Paul
D: #36 Maclayne Menzel - Minnesota State
GK: #00 Emilia Kristensen - MSU Moorhead
9/21/26
O: #6 Dina Polanco - University of Mary
D: #7 Harlee Peltz - University of Mary
GK: #0 Audrey Burns - Northern State
9/28/26
O: #7 Amara Smith - Minnesota State
D: #12 Lauren Youngquist - Northern State
GK: #1 Kadyn Dilger - University of Mary
10/5/26
O: #17 Sophia Haase - Concordia-St. Paul
D: #4 Kate Murphy - Sioux Falls
GK: #1 Edy Halverson - Minnesota Duluth
10/12/26
O: #21 Avery Heinz – Augustana
D: #32 Addison Burt – Augustana
GK: #0 Lauren McAlpine - Minnesota State (2)
10/19/26
O: #6 Dina Polanco - University of Mary
D: #19 Reese Zediker - St. Cloud State
GK: #0 Lauren McAlpine - Minnesota State (3) 

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 128 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.