MINOT, N.D. – Already with two exhibition tests under their belt, the Minot State women's soccer team is prepared to kick off its 2023 season this weekend, starting a busy four-game stretch on the road.

Coming off a season that saw the Beavers get within overtime of a berth to the NCAA Tournament, head coach TJ Perez has reloaded his roster in the hope of advancing beyond the NSIC Tournament title game.

The Beavers take the first step to accomplishing that goal Sunday with a non-conference season opener at 11 a.m. at NSIC foe Minnesota Crookston.
"We're super excited," Perez said. "This is the great part, this is what we wait for all spring, all summer and now we get to this point; everyone's got the energy, everyone's getting in and getting together."

Getting together is a big key for the Beavers with half of the 26-player roster being newcomers, but several already have begun to make an impact like former NCAA Division I players Morgen Fried, a junior defender who transferred from Idaho State, and Jessica Groen, a junior forward who played two seasons at the Air Force Academy.

The Beavers also add several other veteran transfers in Manuela Pacheco, a junior midfielder, and Edelin Ortega, a junior defender/forward who both played at Otero College, graduate student and forward/midfielder Maria Pacheco Martinez, who most recently played for NCAA D-II Franklin Pierce, and junior midfielder Yossi Villagrana, a transfer from Butler Community College.

"The newcomers that are coming in all have an experience and some great backgrounds that they came from," Perez said, "…really strong knowledge of the game, and they are bringing the level up every day."

They are mixing with a group of returns led by team captains Rebecca Storr, a sophomore defender who was named to the NSIC All-Tournament team last fall, and redshirt-sophomore defender Sierra Haren.

"They are providing that energy, they are providing that push and that seniority a little bit; they've been here, they know what the experience is," Perez said.

Also back and providing leadership are two of the Beavers top scorers in redshirt junior forward Brooklyn Casey (3 goals) and redshirt sophomore Maddy St. Yves (1 goal, 2 assists).

"There's tons of talent here and tons of people that are contributing every day, pushing each other through the fitness, pushing each other in the exercises we have planned," Perez added.

All in preparation to kick off the season this week, to push through into conference play, and beyond.

"This will be the real deal now and so I think we're preparing in a good way," Perez said, looking ahead to Sunday's opener. "Our fitness is getting stronger every day, our ideas of what we want to do on the field are coming together more and more and we're seeing a pattern of seeing what we want.

"I think this is a chance to test ourselves even more and show up with a good, strong, focused mentality to get after these games."

After opening with a non-conference game hosted by the Golden Eagles, the Beavers head to Montana during a busy first week, playing at Montana State-Billings on Thursday, then taking on Black Hills State on Saturday in a contest hosted by MSU-Billings.

A busy 10-day, season-opening stretch wraps up with one more non-conference contest against an NSIC foe on Tuesday, Sept. 12, as Minot State plays at Bemidji State, then the Beavers make their home and NSIC debut on Friday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m., kicking off Homecoming Weekend by hosting in-state rival the University of Mary at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium.