DENVER, Colo. – The Minot State soccer team hits the field for the official start of the 2025 season Thursday night in Colorado, ushering in a new era under veteran first-year head coach Chris Logan.

After nine seasons at the NCAA Division I level, Logan takes over as the fourth head coach in the Beavers' 15-year history, excited about the opener Thursday at 8 p.m. (Minot time) against the host Regis Rangers.

"I feel good just because I've enjoyed what I've seen in practice," said Logan, who spent the last 8 seasons as the head coach at North Dakota and is the winningest coach in Fighting Hawks history. "I know that when the team is engaged and they're playing with intensity, I can see an identity that when everyone that steps on the field, they just perform at the same one beat. …They all come out and they perform at the same high level."

The Opener
The season opener will present challenges for the Beavers, if in no other way than playing at the mile-high altitude in Denver.

"Can't wait," Logan said of the opener. "The team is biting at the bit to get going here. …It will really stretch us against a good team, but, you know, I think we're more than ready for the occasion."

The Rangers, who were 6-10-3 last season, will be a tough opening foe as Regis holds a 1-0 series edge, topping Minot State 3-1 back in 2021 in Colorado.

Regis returns two of their top 3 scorers in senior forward Natalie Bunch (6 goals, 1 assist) and sophomore forward Fernanda Rodriguez (4 goals, 1 assist), and return their top goalie in senior Glover Grace, who had 4 wins and 4 shutouts last fall.

Key Returners for Minot State
A pair of returning All-NSIC 2^nd Team performers lead the way for Minot State this season in 5-foot-6 sophomore forward Anna Miotto and 5-8 senior now-midfielder Sierra Haren.

Miotto was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year last season after scoring 7 goals and adding 2 assists in her collegiate debut.

Haren, a three-year starter on the defensive line for the Beavers, moves to midfield this season after being named All-NSIC, and has been providing additional offensive punch for Minot State.

"She's been really effective in the attack," Logan said of the Beavers' senior captain, adding, "and she's been a lot of fun to coach and watch day-to-day in practice and in the two exhibitions."

While Haren formerly anchored the back line, that role now falls on sophomore defender Elsa Duquesne, another key returner who started all 20 games last season as a true freshman for Minot State.

Top Newcomers
With the graduation of goalie Siriana Gudino, who played every minute in goal and posted 13 shutouts for Minot State last season, one key spot to find newcomers is in the net, where Coach Logan says any of the team's three keepers can have success.

"We're really strong in the net; the competition's pretty fierce there," he said.

Competition between 5-6 freshman Jayen Alger, a four-time all-league goalie at Jurupa Valley High School in California, returning redshirt freshman McKinley Morris, a 5-8 keeper from average 5.25 saves per game at Higley High School in 2023, and 6-0 sophomore transfer Rebecca Sargent who was named Region IX Goalie of the Year after 10 wins and 5 shutouts at Laramie County Community College in 2023.

They'll provide a solid foundation in back that the Beavers will build upon with the addition of plenty of other newcomers led by 5-3 junior defender Brittney Egbert, a 1^st Team All-Region selection from Casper College, and 5-7 junior forward Keilani Broadnax, who had 7 goals and 3 assists in two seasons at Lincoln University.

The Season
After testing their conditioning and talents Thursday at Regis, the Beavers battle NSIC foe Concordia, St. Paul in a non-conference contest on the road Sunday, a nice measuring stick prior to the upcoming league race as the Golden Bears were picked second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and Minot State eighth.

After one more pre-conference contest at Montana State Billings on September 13, Minot State opens league play with its home debut, hosting St. Cloud State at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium on Friday, September 19, at 5 p.m.

The start to a challenging NSIC race as Minot State doesn't look to settle for where others pick them to finish.

"We have to be in charge of our destiny, where we finish," Logan said. "We have higher aspirations with this group; we've set kind of higher targets and we're going to be looking to fill them."