MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's soccer team started its fall practice schedule today and at the same time found out they have been picked to finish 8
th in the NSIC standings this season.
The Beavers received 121 points in the NSIC Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll, released today, to land at the No. 8 spot in the rankings.
"This year, as a program, we are passionate about building on last season and competing every match," Beavers coach Adam Dailey said. "We have some great players returning and are excited for the new transfers and freshmen to come in and work hard and grow together as a group. We have high expectations for ourselves on and off the field and look to prove that every training session, class, and game."
Along with the preseason poll, the NSIC also named its Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, and players to watch both on offense and defense, for each team.
Highlighted this preseason were Beaver forward and graduate student Linnea Svenzén and senior defender
Brittney Egbert as Minot State's players to watch.
"Linnea is the definition of hard work," Coach Dailey said. "She spent last season recovering from an ACL injury, but that didn't stop her from being a major part of the team. Linnea always gives her best on and off the field and has put so much time in over the years. I'm excited to see her back on the field in her last season at Minot State."
Now in her fifth season with the Beavers, Svenzén has played in 34 games for Minot State, including 13 during the 2024 season before redshirting last fall.
As for Egbert, she played in all 19 games for Minot State last fall, scoring 4 goals and adding a pair of assists while helping anchor the defense.
"Brittney has been a hard worker from day one of getting to Minot," Dailey said. "She transferred from Casper College, where she was a regular starter in the backline. Brittney gives her best each and every day in training. She is consistent on the field and in the classroom. As a captain this year, she will continue to be a great example for her teammates."
Svenzén, Egbert, and the rest of the Beavers will be in action for a series of preseason scrimmages and exhibitions starting with the Red-White scrimmage on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium. Minot State then scrimmages the Magic City Legends on Sunday at 1 p.m. and wraps up its exhibition slate hosting North Dakota State College of Science at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 22.
The Beavers open the regular season in California at the end of August, playing at Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday, August 27, and at Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday, August 29.
Minot State makes its official home debut on Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m., hosting in-state foe Jamestown in a non-conference contest.
Last fall's regular-season and tournament champion, Minnesota State, was a heavy favorite to repeat as champs this season, picking up 223 points and 13 first-place votes in the preseason poll, while Concordia-St. Paul was the coaches' No. 2 pick with 204 points and 3 first-place votes.
Bemidji State was picked 3
rd with 193 points, Augustana was picked 4
th with 174 points, St. Cloud State was picked 5
th with 164 points, Mary was picked 6
th with 156 points, Northern State was picked 7
th with 142 points, Minot State was picked 8
th with 121 points, Winona State was picked 9
th with 104 points, Minnesota Duluth was picked 10
th with 98 points, Wayne State was picked 11
th with 95 points, Sioux Falls was picked 12
th with 89 points, Southwest Minnesota State was picked 13
th with 46 points, Jamestown was picked 14
th with 42 points, Minnesota Crookston was picked 15
th with 35 points, and Minnesota State Moorhead was picked 16
th with 34 points.
Concordia-St. Paul senior midfielder Sophie Haase, who was named to the D2CCA and USC All-Central Region teams last fall, was named the NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Minnesota State senior defender Mila Rustin was named NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
NSIC Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Team (1st-place votes in parenthesis) |
Points |
| 1 |
Minnesota State (13) |
223 |
| 2 |
Concordia-St. Paul (3) |
204 |
| 3 |
Bemidji State |
193 |
| 4 |
Augustana |
174 |
| 5 |
St. Cloud State |
164 |
| 6 |
Mary |
156 |
| 7 |
Northern State |
142 |
| 8 |
Minot State |
121 |
| 9 |
Winona State |
104 |
| 10 |
Minnesota Duluth |
98 |
| 11 |
Wayne State |
95 |
| 12 |
Sioux Falls |
89 |
| 13 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
46 |
| 14 |
Jamestown |
42 |
| 15 |
Minnesota Crookston |
35 |
| 16 |
Minnesota State Moorhead |
34 |
