The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team was picked 16th out of 16 teams in the 2021 NSIC Preseason Soccer Coaches’ Poll released on Monday. The Golden Eagles received 26 points in the poll.
Minnesota State Mankato was selected first in the NSIC Preseason Soccer Coaches’ Poll with nine first-place votes and 218 overall points. Augustana University was second with three first-place votes and 202 points, while Concordia University-St. Paul placed third with 200 points and four first-place votes.
Jenny Vetter of Minnesota State was selected as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Megan Dahl of Bemidji State University was picked as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The UMC soccer team returns to the pitch for the first time since the 2019 season after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. Minnesota Crookston is entering their third season under Head Coach Kyle Halfpop. The Golden Eagles will have a young squad in 2021 with just two players who competed on the 2019 squad with Ashley Chomyn (So., MF, Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Gabriela Pinto (Sr., D, Beaverton, Ore.). The Golden Eagles open up the 2021 season Saturday, Sept. 4 at Dakota Wesleyan University. “I’m really excited about this team as we will look completely different than our 2019 season,” said Head Coach Kyle Halfpop. “We only have two returning players from that squad, so we have a fresh approach to 2021. The mentality of this group is strong and they are creating the foundation for our program to be built. We will be extremely young and I think that brings a lot of good enthusiasm and a hunger to succeed.”
POLL RESULTS –
1. Minnesota State Mankato (9) 218
2. Augustana (3) 202
3. Concordia-St. Paul (4) 200
4. Bemidji State 194
5. St. Cloud State 165
6. University of Mary 155
7. Winona State 117
8. Wayne State 109
9. Southwest Minnesota State 106
10. Minot State 104
11. Minnesota Duluth 103
12. Minnesota State Moorhead 66
13. Northern State 55
14. Sioux Falls 52
15. Upper Iowa 48
16. UMC 26
