Rochester, MN-
As soccer teams across the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) return to the pitch, coaches took time to share their comments about the 2022 men's and women's soccer seasons and predict the regular season order of finish for participating teams.
MCAC Soccer competes at the NJCAA Division III level, and has four member colleges participating in women's soccer (Alexandria, Anoka-Ramsey, Lake Superior, and Rochester) and five member colleges competing in men's soccer (Alexandria, Anoka-Ramsey, Lake Superior, Minnesota West, and Riverland).
Coaches' Poll (Women):
- Rochester Community & Technical College
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College
- Lake Superior College
- Alexandria College (club only in 2022)
Coaches' Poll (Men):
- Anoka-Ramsey Community College
- Riverland Community College
- Lake Superior College
- Minnesota West Community & Technical College
- Alexandria College
Read on for season previews of the MCAC soccer teams, and be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAASoccer on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college soccer news, rankings and season information.
For the MCAC Sports home page, go to https://mcacsports.org/sports/msoc/index for the men's soccer home page and https://mcacsports.org/sports/wsoc/index for the women's soccer home page.
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2022 Women's Soccer Preview
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Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Bryan Weiss, 5th year at RCTC Coaching Staff: Alexa Hepner, Assistant Coach; Sarah Baack, Assistant Coach; and Tyler Nelson, Athletic Trainer 2021 Overall Record: 9-3 overall, 4-0 in the MCAC; MCAC Champions, Region 13 Champions and district qualifier Top returning players: Mia Pierre, Forward, St. Charles, MN Amy Gonzalez, Defender, Smithfield, UT Haley Doyea, Midfielder, Anoka, MN Libby Janka, Defender, Owatanna, MN Kaitlyn Weiss, Defender, Rochester, MN Top incoming players: Mackenzie Polson, Forward, Plainview, MN Mongi Obang, Forward, Rochester, MN Layken Koehler, Midfielder, Dover, MN Khloee Zelinske, Defender, Stewartville, MN Emma Buck, Defensive Midfielder, Zumbrota, MN Coach Weiss on the 2022 Yellowjackets' season: "There were a lot of positives in 2021. RCTC outscored their opponents 38 to 9. We won our conference, the NJCAA Region XIII tournament, and quite a few awards. But ultimately, we wanted to play further into the postseason. In 2022 the Yellowjackets have loaded up the roster to make a push for the NJCAA National Tournament. We have fourteen returners, six of which are MCAC All-Conference players. We've also added a solid group of transfer players and freshmen. RCTC women's soccer has big goals for this season. We also have the talent and drive to achieve them." Notable information: This is RCTC's deepest roster in years, featuring a roster of 23 student-athletes, 19 of which are from Minnesota.
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Tim Notz, 2nd year at Anoka-Ramsey, 3-6 record Coaching Staff: Javier Cruz, Assistant Coach; Gustavo Durraty, Goalkeeper Coach 2021 Overall Record: 3-6 overall, 2-2 in the MCAC; Region 13 Tournament Finalist Top returning players: Mariel Mills, Center Midfielder, Blaine, MN Top incoming players: McKenzie Boyce, Center Midfielder, Elk River High School Coach Notz on the 2022 Golden Rams' season: "Make each week better than the previous one."
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Lake Superior College
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Head Coach: Caitlyn Wood, 3rd year at Lake Superior College, 0-4 record Coaching Staff: Shannon Lewis, Assistant Coach 2021 Overall Record: 0-10 overall, 0-4 in the MCAC; 3rd place in the MCAC Top returning players: Kady Pedroza, Defender, Fairmount, MN Wendy Sanchez, Defender, Fairmount, MN Summer Helland, Attacking Midfielder, East Bethel, MN Julia Severance, Midfielder, Duluth, MN Therese Gannuucci, Goalkeeper, Hermantown, MN Top incoming players: Lydia Steinbaur, Forward, Allenton, WI Catherine Bastin, Forward, Duluth, MN Gaby Jauhola, Midfielder, Proctor, MN Ana Hamann, Holding Midfielder, Carlton, MN Maria Clara Pereira de Quadros, Forward/Midfielder, Sao Paulo, Brazil Coach Wood on the Ice Hawks' season: "We've got a good group of women this year that are working really hard and taking the program in the right direction. I'm excited for the year and the team that we have." Notable Information: The Ice Hawks added an assistant coach, Shannon Lewis, who has a strong soccer background.
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Alexandria College
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Head Coach: Tom Roos, 1st year at Alexandria College Coaching Staff: William (Chato) Alvarado 2021 Overall Record: Did not compete - 2022 is the inaugural year Top returning players: No returning players - 1st year program Top incoming players: Julissa Celis Victoria, Defender, Willmar, MN Emily Starr, Midfielder, Sauk Rapids, MN Coach Roos on the 2022 Legends' season: "We will work hard to have a positive experience and show improvement throughout the season." Notable information: Alexandria College women's soccer program will compete at the club level for 2022 as the program continues to get built and grow.
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2022 Men's Soccer Preview
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Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Qassim Ilmi, 2nd year at Anoka-Ramsey, 9-3-1 record Coaching Staff: None 2021 Overall Record: 9-3-1 overall, 5-0-1 in the MCAC; MCAC Champions; Region 13 Champions Top returning players: Reece Lawler Martin Gaar Lokeng Moua Top incoming players: Ty Modaff, Center Midfielder, Monticello, MN Chee Lee, Center Midfielder, Osseo, MN Dominic Vazquez, Striker, Champlain Park, MN Evan Galledou, Center Midfielder, Plymouth, MN Coach Ilmi on the 2022 Golden Rams' season: "Our goal is the same as any year, we want to provide players opportunity to showcase their talent and get looks from 4-year schools. We also want to defend our title and represent the state at districts." Notable Information: The Rams will be a young team and freshmen will be needed to get the team where they want to be.
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Riverland Community College
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Head Coach: Frank Spaeth, 3rd year at Riverland, 20-10-1 record Coaching Staff: Troy Cohrs, Assistant Coach; Mario Garcia, Assistant Coach; and Alex Evenson, Assistant Coach 2021 Overall Record: 10-6-1 overall, 4-1-1 in the MCAC; 2nd place MCAC finish; Region 13 runner-up Top returning players: Lei Htoo, Forward, Albert Lea, MN Top incoming players: Pedro Almeida, Brazil Rhulani Mathye, South Africa Said Geelle, Owatonna, MN Bol Bayak, Mankato, MN Coach Spaeth on the 2022 Blue Devils' season: "We're looking forward to another competitive season of MCAC soccer." Noteable Information: Last season, Coach Spaeth became the winningest soccer coach in Riverland Community College men's soccer history.
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Lake Superior College
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Head Coach: Anthony Wood, 3rd year at Lake Superior College Coaching Staff: Nate Regas, Assistant Coach 2021 Overall Record: 1-8 overall, 1-5 in the MCAC Top returning players: Carsen Monnier, Defender Otto Cockburn, Wing Owen Wilcox, Midfielder Top incoming players: Michael Gill, Defender VIctor Machado, Midfielder Ulrich Mvogo, Midfielder Spencer Teitelbaum, Defender Coach Wood on the 2022 Ice Hawks' season: "We are coming off of a rebuild coming out of COVID. Excited about this team and believe we will compete at a high level." Notable information: This should be an exciting group to watch.
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Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Jordan Balster, 2nd year at Minnesota West, 3-7 record Coaching Staff: None 2021 Overall Record: 3-7 overall, 1-5 in the MCAC; 4th place in the MCAC Top returning players: Giovanni Cano, Midfielder, Murrieta, CA Ricardo Rodriguez, Goalkeeper, Worthington, MN Top incoming players: Dalen Gonzalez, Defender, Worthington, MN Ulises Barrera, Midfielder, Worthington, MN Edgar Carrillo, Midfielder, Worthington, MN Omar Fernandez, Defender, Worthington, MN Coach Balster on the 2022 Bluejay's season: "We are looking forward to get to continue to build our program in our second season. We have brought in players that we know will put in the work on and off the field to help the team be successful." Notable information: The majority of the incoming players this year are hometown athletes having played high school ball in Worthington, MN.
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Alexandria College
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Head Coach: Tom Roos, 1st year at Alexandria College Coaching Staff: William (Chato) Alvarado 2021 Overall Record: Did not compete - 2022 is the inaugural season Top returning players: No returning players - 1st year program Top incoming players: Jordy Contreras, Mid Defender, Willmar, MN Dahir Mohamed, Forward, Willmar, MN Sebastian Centeno, Midfielder, Pelican Rapids, MN Joao Segutti, Midfielder, Brasilia, Brazil Coach Roos on the 2022 Legends' season: "We hope to be competitive within the conference despite being a new program." Notable Information: Alexandria College is excited to bring college soccer to the Alexandria area.
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.