The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team was picked to finish 15th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released Tuesday, August 13.
The Golden Eagles are entering their second season under Head Coach Neil Mancktelow in 2024. Minnesota Crookston returns a strong core from 2023 and will boast their biggest roster in program history with 27 student-athletes. The Golden Eagles have 15 players who started games in 2023 and a 16th who saw action. Sarah Burgum (Jr., F, Mandan, N.D.) is the Offensive Player to Watch for Minnesota Crookston. She had one assist in 2023 and has a goal and two assists in her career.
“Sarah is one of the more experienced student-athletes that we have in the team at Minnesota Crookston,” said Mancktelow. “She has shown a great deal of growth as a person, student, and soccer player. She is heavily involved on campus in different roles and is a great example of what a student-athlete should be doing for their campus community. Sarah had a great Spring season and has continued building that momentum playing in the WPSL this summer.”
Tessa VanOverbeke (So., D, Hartford, S.D.) made an immediate impact as a freshman for the Golden Eagles, helping anchor the back line. She had one goal, started 16 games, and played 1,413 minutes as a freshman. VanOverbeke helped the defense to six games where they allowed two goals or less.
“Tessa is a great example of the type of person, student, and athlete that we want involved here at Minnesota Crookston,” Mancktelow stated. “She does well in the classroom and has become a presence around campus with her various roles in different departments as a student worker. As a soccer player she has set a good foundation for herself her freshman year and this summer has continued building momentum applying her trade in the WPSL environment.”
The Golden Eagles also return Brooklyn Fischbach (Sr., F, South St. Paul), who led the 2023 squad with two goals. Marsia Green, Lanie Padelford, and Autumn Rabe all had an assist in 2023. Minnesota Crookston will also have a strong contingent of newcomers joining the fray in 2024, with 11 new players set to compete for the Golden Eagles.
“As we approach the Fall 2024 season, we are excited to welcome all the new faces we will have in the team here at Minnesota Crookston,” Mancktelow said. “With the large number of returning players that we will have we are looking forward to fusing that blend of youth and experience as we look to take on the NSIC in September.”
Megan Fastenau of Northern State University and Mo Malone of the University of Mary were selected as NSIC Preseason Players of the Year.
Minnesota State University was selected to finish first in the standings with 10 first-place votes, while St. Cloud State University was second with four first-place votes.
The Golden Eagles open their preseason slate on Wednesday, August 21, at the University of North Dakota. Their first regular-season contest is Friday, September 6, against Lincoln University of Missouri.
