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 2024 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):
1. Rochester Community & Technical College
T2. Anoka-Ramsey Community College
T2. Lake Superior College
4. Alexandria Technical and Community College
Coaches' Poll (Men):
1. Riverland Community College
2. Minnesota West Community and Technical College
3. Anoka-Ramsey Community College
T4. Alexandria Technical and Community College
T4. Lake Superior 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 Conference2024 Women's Soccer Preview(Teams are listed in predicted order of regular season finish. Tied teams are listed alphabetically.) |
Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Bryan Weiss, 6th year at RCTC, 35-14-7 record Coaching Staff: Keely Troup, Assistant Coach; Khloee Zelinske, Assistant Coach 2023 Overall Record: 10-2-2 overall, 6-0 in the MCAC; MCAC Champions; Region 13 Champions; Midwest District Qualifier Top returning players: Madison Harden, Midfielder, Dover, MN (All-MCAC Team) Emily Morales, Forward, Tea, SD Top incoming players: Lilly Farrand, Midfielder, Big Lake, MN Emma Scheppmann, Midfielder, Fairmont, MN Coach Weiss on the 2024 Yellowjackets' season: "We're expecting some wonderful things from this group." Notable information: Two former RCTC athletes, Keely Troup and Khloee Zelinske, were added to the coaching staff. |
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Ben Harrison, 2nd year at Anoka-Ramsey Coaching Staff: N/A 2023 Overall Record: 2-5-2 overall, 2-3-1 in the MCAC; 2nd place in the MCAC; Region 13 Tournament Finalist; Midwest District Qualifier Top returning players: Kristen Olson Cassandra Thao Top incoming players: Grace Stevenson, CF, Coon Rapids, MN Coach Harrison on the 2024 Golden Rams' season: "This year, we will challenge Rochester at the top of the conference. We are close to bringing back the past success that has been associated with the Anoka Ramsey program throughout the last 10 years." |
Lake Superior College
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Head Coach: Caitlyn Wood, 5th year at Lake Superior College Coaching Staff: Brandon Johnson, Assistant Coach 2023 Overall Record: 0-6-2 overall, 0-5-2 in the MCAC; 4th place in the MCAC Top returning players: Natayla Kilsdonk, GK, Duluth, MN Top incoming players: Natalie Yach, FWD, Menomonie, WI Taylor Hammerel, DM, Hayward, WI Coach Wood on the 2024 Ice Hawks' season: "We have a great group of ladies this year! They're positive and supportive of each other and do a fantastic job of helping one another. We're looking forward to playing and creating some lifelong memories." Notable Information: The Ice Hawks are excited to have added Brandon Johnson as the new assistant coach. Brandon previously served as the high school boys' coach at Two Harbor. |
Alexandria Technical and Community College
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Head Coach: Chato Alvarado and Tom Roos (co-head coaches), 3rd year at Alexandria College Coaching Staff: Carly Erickson and Chato Alvarado, co-athletic directors 2023 Overall Record: 1-6-2 overall, 1-4 in the MCAC, 3rd place in the MCAC Top returning players: Daniela Botella, Midfielder, Melrose, MN (All-MCAC Team) Top incoming players: Emily Stephens, GK, Stewartville, MN Ariana Villagomez, Forward, Pelican Rapids, MN Coach Roos on the 2024 Legends' season: "Hoping that we can demonstrate gradual growth in the program each year." Notable information: Alexandria Technical and Community College and its coaches are working hard to increase roster numbers and field competitive teams each year. |
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2024 Men's Soccer Preview(Teams are listed in predicted order of regular season finish. Tied teams are listed alphabetically.) |
Riverland Community College
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Head Coach: Frank Spaeth, 5th year at Riverland, 38-27-6 record Coaching Staff: Fabian Becerril, Assistant Coach; and Mario Garcia, Assistant Coach 2023 Overall Record: 8-7-4 overall, 4-3-1 in the MCAC; 2nd place in the MCAC; Region 13 Champions; Midwest District Runner-Up Top returning players: Ntsako Baloyi, Pretoria, South Africa (All-MCAC Team, All-Region 13 Team) Alex Ulrich, Owatonna, MN (All-MCAC Team, All-Region 13 Team) Camden Williams, Rochester, MN (All-MCAC Team) Reyes Turcios, Faribault, MN Top incoming players: Nick Asmus, Austin, MN TJ Nosbisch, Mount Vernon, IA Lukas Schrock, Mount Vernon, IA Breno Neiva, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Jamie Gillingham, Cape Town, South Africa Coach Spaeth on the 2024 Blue Devils' season: "It's another new season with a lot of new faces. We're looking forward to another competitive season of MCAC soccer and to what the season brings." Notable Information: New assistant coach, Fabian Becerril, brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the staff. |
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Jordan Balster, 4th year at Minnesota West, 11-21-2 record Coaching Staff: Daniel Bernstrom and Frank Herrera 2023 Overall Record: 8-4-2 overall, 5-1-2 in the MCAC; MCAC Champions Top returning players: Prince Lebbi, FW, Fairmont, MN (All-MCAC Team) Eli Robinson, GK, Worthington, MN Kaleb Lee, Def., Spirit Lake, IA Adrian Sanchez, Def., Fairmont, MN Top incoming players: Per Pekkeriet, Mid., Netherlands Robin Braun, Def., Germany Joenghyeon Han, Def., South Korea Mason Bruce, Mid., England Manuel Alarcon, FW, Chile Coach Balster on the 2024 Bluejay's season: "We have brought in more depth for our team this season. With a large group of first-year guys and a few key returners, we are looking to compete for the MCAC and Region titles." |
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Marcus Anthony, 1st year at Anoka-Ramsey, 0-0 record Coaching Staff: Ralph Turner, Assistant Coach 2023 Overall Record: 5-8-1 overall; 3-4-1 in the MCAC; 4th place in the MCAC; Region 13 Runner-Up Top returning players: Karim Kandor, MF, Minneapolis, MN Jordan Jagt, Minneapolis, MN Top incoming players: Isaac Swenson, MF, Maple Grove, MN Maid Medic, MF, Spring Lake Park, MN Evan Galledou, MF, Brooklyn Park, MN Cody Paulsen, Elk River, MN Beckham Sarles, RB, Elk River, MN Coach Anthony on the 2024 Golden Rams' season: "Discipline and commitment with an open mind are what creates a tranformational culture. Our goal this season is to bring a competitive, strong, and disciplined mindset to every game. With the right mindset, our preparation should allow us to compete to the best of our ability no matter the result." |
Alexandria Technical and Community College
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Head Coach: Tom Roos and Chato Alvarado, 3rd year at Alexandria College Coaching Staff: Carly Erickson and Chato Alvarado, co-athletic directors 2023 Overall Record: 4-7 overall; 4-4 in the MCAC; 3rd place in the MCAC Top returning players: Jannes Vroeginweij, Def., Netherlands Ricardo Contreras, Mid., Willmar, MN Nahum Tarin, Mid. Top incoming players: Francis Kodua, Dickinson, ND Coach Roos on the 2024 Legends' season: "A lot of uncertainty with few returning players from last year, but we are cautiously optimistic." Notable Information: Alexandria College is looking forward to another season in the MCAC. |
Lake Superior College
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Head Coach: Anthony Wood, 5th year at Lake Superior College Coaching Staff: N/A 2023 Overall Record: 3-11 overall; 2-6 in the MCAC; 5th place in the MCAC Top returning players: No information available Top incoming players: No information available Coach Wood on the 2024 Ice Hawks' season: No information available |
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.