For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
NSIC Media Relations
Offensive Player of the Year
#6 Dina Polanco (M, 5-1, So., Guatemala / Andrews Osborne Academy) - University of Mary
- NSIC regular-season leader in goals (17) and points (35)
- NSIC leader in game-winning goals (7)
- Second in NSIC in shots/game (4.47) and shots on goal/game (2.27)
- Two-time NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
- Set UMary NCAA record for goals (20) and points (42)
- Leads NCAA D2 in game-winning goals (8)
- Ranks 5th nationally in goals/game (1.05) and 6th in points/game (2.21)
- Perfect 7-for-7 in penalty kick opportunities
Defensive Player of the Year
#12 Lauren Youngquist (D, Sr., Anoka, Minn. / Anoka HS) - Northern State University
- Started all 15 NSIC contests for NSU, appearing in 1289 minutes
- Tallied six points with two goals and two assists, while taking 15 total shots in league play
- Recorded the game winning goal for the Wolves against Southwest Minnesota State
- Anchored the Wolves defense that tallied four shutouts in NSIC action
- Added one goal and four shots in non-conference action and led the team in minutes played this season with 1559
- Earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Week once in 2026
- Three-time NSIC All-Conference performer
Midfielder of the Year
#7 Nora Helvig (M, 5-4, So., Lino Lakes, Minn. / Centennial HS) - University of Minnesota Duluth
- Led NSIC play in shots (4.60) and shots on goal (2.53)
- Tied for 10th in NSIC play with 15 points and was tied for fourth in game-winning-goals with three
- The six goals scored in NSIC play tied for seventh
- Started all 19 matches for UMD with 18 points on seven goals and four assists
Goalkeeper of the Year
#0 Lauren McAlpine (GK, 5-6, Jr., Shoreview, Minn. / Mounds View HS) - Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Named NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year in a row
- Recorded a 12-1-2 record with 12 shutouts in NSIC play
- Allowed just seven goals with 53 saves in NSIC play
- Started in all 19 games, totaling 1,710 minutes with a 16-1-2 record with 15 shutouts (tied for most in the country)
- Allowed eight goals, making 87 total saves
- Has played in 51 games over three seasons owning a 35-3-7 career record with 33 shutouts
- Holds a career 0.38 GAA and a .913 save percentage
Newcomer of the Year
#3 Ivy Wessel (D, 5-8, So., Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS / Loras College) - University of Mary
- Two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
- Posted one goal and three assists for five points in NSIC games
- Helped Marauders limit NSIC opposition to .67 goals/game, 2nd lowest in league
- UMary posted eight shutouts in 15 NSIC games and allowed five goals in last 13 league games
NSIC Coach of the Year
Sarah Cook (15th Season) - University of Mary
- Led the University of Mary to its first NSIC Regular Season Women’s Soccer Championship
- Lost only one conference game and finished 12-1-2 in NSIC action
- Finished NSIC season on a 13-match unbeaten streak
- Set program single-season record for NSIC wins (12) and points (38)
- UMary earned home playoff berth for first time since 2008
- Marauders qualified for NSIC tournament for 9th straight season
- Six players earned NSIC Player of the Week honors
- UMary starting lineup featured three freshmen, four newcomers, seven underclassmen and seven new starters
NSIC All-Conference Teams
| # |
First Team |
Pos. |
Yr. |
School |
Hometown |
| 10 |
Madelyn White |
F |
Sr. |
AUGIE |
Gretna, Neb. |
| 9 |
Madeline Davey |
D |
Sr. |
BSU |
Chaska, Minn. |
| 6 |
Megan Ko |
M |
Sr. |
BSU |
Lake Oswego, Ore. |
| 24 |
Grace Schwoch |
D |
Jr. |
BSU |
Stillwater, Minn. |
| 17 |
Sophia Haase |
F |
Sr. |
CSP |
Monticello, Minn. |
| 8 |
Lexi Pettit |
M |
Sr. |
CSP |
Mount Pleasant, Wis. |
| 99 |
Sydney Potter |
GK |
Sr. |
CSP |
South St Paul, Minn. |
| 12 |
Chloe Brand |
D |
Sr. |
UMary |
London, England |
| 6 |
Dina Polanco |
F |
So. |
UMary |
Guatemala |
| 7 |
Nora Helvig |
M |
So. |
UMD |
Lino Lakes, Minn. |
| 6 |
Maddix Archer |
M |
Sr. |
MSU |
Brookings, S.D. |
| 0 |
Lauren McAlpine |
GK |
Sr. |
MSU |
Shoreview, Minn. |
| 7 |
Amara Smith |
F |
Jr |
MSU |
Lake Elmo, Minn. |
| 12 |
Lauren Youngquist |
D |
Sr. |
NSU |
Anoka, Minn. |
| 6 |
Darby Allen |
M |
Jr. |
SCSU |
Minnetonka, Minn. |
| 25 |
Izzy Halunen |
D |
Jr. |
SCSU |
Woodbury, Minn. |
| 22 |
Linsey Trapino |
F |
Sr. |
SCSU |
Verona, Wis. |
| # |
Second Team |
Pos. |
Yr. |
School |
Hometown |
| 32 |
Addison Burt |
D |
Jr. |
AU |
Omaha, Neb. |
| 21 |
Avery Heinz |
F |
Sr. |
AU |
Lakeville, Minn. |
| 3 |
Grace Katter |
M |
So. |
AU |
Zimmerman, Minn. |
| 12 |
Ashlyn Kelliher |
D |
Sr. |
AU |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 15 |
Madisen Fritel |
F |
Jr. |
BSU |
Big Lake, Minn. |
| 3 |
Maddison Balashaitis |
D |
So. |
CSP |
Ankeny, Iowa |
| 7 |
Ashley Bennett |
F |
5th |
CSP |
Lakeville, Minn. |
| 16 |
Kyah Gabel |
M |
Jr. |
UJ |
Murrieta, Calif. |
| 10 |
Vega Canada |
M |
Sr. |
UJ |
Pamplona, Spain |
| 1 |
Kadyn Dilger |
GK |
Jr. |
UMary |
Big Lake, Minn. |
| 7 |
Harlee Peltz |
D |
Jr. |
UMary |
Albertville, Minn. |
| 3 |
Ivy Wessel |
D |
So. |
UMary |
Rosemount, Minn. |
| 9 |
Tessa VanOverbeke |
D |
Sr. |
UMC |
Hartford, S.D. |
| 18 |
Lauren McGough |
F |
Jr. |
UMD |
Farmington, Minn. |
| 22 |
Keira Olabode |
D |
Jr. |
UMD |
Prior Lake, Minn. |
| 1 |
Edy Halverson |
GK |
So. |
UMD |
Mendota Heights, Minn. |
| 11 |
Reese Hilsenbeck |
D |
Jr. |
MSU |
Eldridge, Iowa |
| 28 |
Savanna Stockness |
D |
Jr. |
MSU |
Mahtomedi, Minn. |
| 17 |
Mila Rustin |
M |
Sr. |
MSU |
Farmington Hills, Mich. |
| 36 |
Maclayne Menzel |
D |
Jr. |
MSU |
Iowa City, Iowa |
| 26 |
Evie Birk |
D |
Fr. |
MSU |
Eagan, Minn. |
| 14 |
Mary Cox |
M |
Jr. |
MSUM |
Evergreen, Colo. |
| 24 |
Elsa Duquesne |
D |
Jr. |
MINOT |
Raimbeaucourt, France |
| 7 |
Iliana Rivera |
F |
Sr. |
MINOT |
Indio, Calif. |
| 7 |
Jaylee Hofer |
F |
Jr. |
NSU |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 3 |
Chloe Voss |
F |
Sr. |
NSU |
Andover, Minn. |
| 11 |
Kailyn Poppen |
M |
Jr. |
NSU |
Aberdeen, S.D. |
| 0 |
Audrey Burns |
GK |
So. |
NSU |
Costa Mesa, Calif. |
| 20 |
Chloe Wilson |
M |
So. |
USF |
Tea, S.D. |
| 33 |
Abby Flanagan |
D |
Jr. |
USF |
Harrisburg, S.D. |
| 22 |
Lily Dahler |
M |
Jr. |
USF |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 2 |
Kelly Sprague |
D |
Fr. |
SCSU |
Edina, Minn. |
| 18 |
Jada Backes |
F |
Jr. |
SMSU |
Rapid City, S.D. |
| 22 |
Olivia Thompson |
M |
Fr. |
WSC |
Elkhorn, Neb. |
| 3 |
Morgan Mancuso |
F |
Jr. |
WSC |
Omaha, Neb. |
| 21 |
Kyleigh Jannisch |
F |
Jr. |
WSU |
Aurora, Ill. |
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.
#NSICSoc