CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team announced the signing of seven student-athletes to their 2021 signing class. The class is the second for Head Coach Kyle Halfpop. Minnesota Crookston signed Kathryn Brainerd (GK/D, 5-7, Corcoran, Minn./Rochester Community and Technical College), Abby Fettinger (D, 5-5, White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake H.S.), Brooklyn Fischbach (GK, South St. Paul, Minn.), Inanna Hauger (MF, 5-1, Boyne City, Mich./Boyne City H.S.), Morgan Laplante (F, 5-9, De Soto, Kan./Johnson County Community College), Lanie Padelford (D, Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi H.S.), and Emma Stempien (GK, 5-6, Plymouth, Mich./Canton H.S.).

"I am excited to welcome our early signees to our 2021 class," Halfpop said. "We are off to a great start with these seven players and we are still looking to add to our class. This being my second class here at UMN Crookston, I feel like we are headed in the right direction as a program and this group embodies a lot of qualities we are looking for as we look to turn the program around. The thing that stands out most is the mentality of all these players. They are all mentally strong, competitive, and have really high work ethics. As we have built relationships with these players, that is what we talk about most. They understand where the program is currently and where we see it going and they are all bought in and ready to improve. We are an ambitious program and I think these players move the needle for us. I am excited to work with all of them and see how they work with my ideas as a coach. Welcome to the Golden Eagle Family!"

The Golden Eagles were able to find some top talent in Minnesota with four players from in-state. In addition, Halfpop found top regional talent in Laplante from Kansas, along with Hauger and Stempien from Michigan. UMN Crookston has inked five high school signees with Fettinger, Fischbach, Hauger, Padelford, and Stempien. In addition, Halfpop signed two transfers with Brainerd and Laplante. Brainerd and Laplante add experience to a young core.
The Minnesota Crookston soccer team is looking to build on the 2019 season, in which the Golden Eagles continued to improve throughout finishing with a 1-15 mark, including a 3-2 victory over Minot State University, a perennial power in the NSIC, late in the season. The Golden Eagles saw the 2020 season get cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. UMN Crookston will look to build on what they did in 2019, as they approach the 2021 season.

The student-athletes listed as having signed a National Letter of Intent or Offer of Admission to play soccer at the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the Minnesota Crookston compliance office once they sign the National Letter of Intent or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission for Minnesota Crookston.


Kathryn Brainerd (GK/D, 5-7, Corcoran, Minn./Rochester Community and Technical College)
Played two years at Rochester Community and Technical College in 2013 and 2014 before joining the U.S. Navy. Brainerd played in 15 games as a sophomore for the Yellowjackets. She posted a 0.46 goals against average with seven goals against. Brainerd notched 53 saves and put up a saves percentage of .883. She won 11 games in goal as a sophomore for the Yellowjackets. Brainerd had shutout wins against Century College, Saint Mary's University junior varsity, Morton College, Harper College, Crown College, and Bismarck State College. She holds the school record at Rochester Community and Technical College for shutouts in a season. Brainerd earned NJCAA DIII Goalie of the Week at RCTC. As a freshman, she posted a 1.23 goals against average in 13 starts with 84 saves. Brainerd had five shutouts as a freshman for the Yellowjackets. As a prep, she competed for Buffalo High School where she received All-Mississippi 8 Conference recognition. Brainerd was selected to the RCTC Dean's List as a freshman.

Brainerd is the daughter of Wendell and Dana Brainerd. She was born Feb. 1, 1995. Brainerd plans to major in natural resources at UMN Crookston. She was in the U.S. Navy for five years. She did a deployment to the South China Sea and did a swim qualification at the Mariana Trench. In addition, she played against a New Zealand team for the RIMPAC 2016 Soccer Tournament.

"I'm honored to be able to coach Kathryn, starting this spring," Halfpop said. "She served our country over the past four years as a member of the US Navy and has a strong desire to get back into the game she loves and is passionate about. She is going to bring leadership qualities, a hard work ethic, and high expectations to a young team."


Abby Fettinger (D, 5-5, White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake H.S.)
Fettinger played in 16 games as a junior at White Bear Lake H.S., with two goals and two assists. She had a goal and an assist in a 7-0 win against Park H.S. Fettinger notched a goal and an assist in a win over Forest Lake H.S. She competed at the club level for Manitou Futbol Club 03 Sambas, where she was a teammate of fellow signee Lanie Padelford. She helped lead her club team to a National Cup Championship in 2018. Fettinger was an All-Suburban East Conference selection in 2020. She led her team to a Conference Championship in 2019.

She is the daughter of Nicole and Paul Fettinger. Fettinger was born March 27, 2003. She plans to major in management at UMN Crookston. Fettinger earned the President's Award in high school.

"Abby is exactly what we were looking for in a wide player," Halfpop said. "She is fast, good with the ball going forward and is great defensively. She has a great work rate and has a high expectation of herself and her teammates. Abby comes in at a great starting point for us but she also plays in a position that I really enjoy coaching and see a lot of progress in players in that area of the field. I am excited to get to work with her."


Brooklyn Fischbach (GK, South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul H.S.)
As a junior in 2019, Fischbach notched 450 minutes in net in six games. She had 11 goals against and 42 saves with a 1.96 goals against average. Fischbach helped South St. Paul H.S. to an 8-8-1 mark in 2019 as a junior. She served as the captain of her club team. Fischbach also competed in hockey for four years. She tried out for the sport as a freshman despite never skating or playing the sport before and continues to enjoy the sport. Fischbach also ran track for all four years at South St. Paul H.S.

She is the daughter of Dan and Kathy Fischbach. Fischbach was born May 16, 2003. She plans to major in equine management at Minnesota Crookston. She was selected to the Gold Honor Roll with a 4.015 GPA.

"Brooklyn is another solid goalkeeper for us," Halfpop stated. "She has shown the ability to read the play and take up good starting positions in her box. She is eager to help her backline out which is different to what we have here already. I'm excited to work with Brooklyn as I think she has a lot of potential and with some coaching can really grow here at UMN Crookston."


Inanna Hauger (MF, 5-1, Boyne City, Mich./Boyne City H.S.)
Hauger competed at the prep level for Boyne City H.S. At the club level, she played for Vardar United FC. Hauger has also competed in snocross racing, where she is world ranked. She was an All-District, All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State selection while at Boyne City H.S.

Hauger is the daughter of Joe Hauger and Jane Reeves. She lost her mom when she was six years old, which has led her to be very goal-driven and independent. Hauger is a member of the National Honor Society and Dream Team.

"Inanna is so adaptable with things in her life and that translates to the soccer field," Halfpop said. "Her work rate is unbelievably high and that suits what we want to do here. She has great technical ability and can see the field very well. She will bring a lot of grit and high energy to our program with lots of room to grow as well. I'm excited to work with her."


Morgan Laplante (F, 5-9, Desoto, Kan./Johnson County Community College)
Laplante is coming to UMN Crookston from Johnson County Community College, where she spent one season. As a freshman, Laplante competed for NCAA Division II Oklahoma Baptist University. She was an Academic All-Conference pick at Oklahoma Baptist. She played in five games as a freshman with one goal, three shots, and two shots on goal. As a prep, she attended Desoto H.S., where was a two-time All-State pick. Laplante was a four-time all-conference pick. In addition, she was a Kansas Governor's Scholar, a salutatorian, and a member of the National Honor Society.

She is the daughter of Mike and Christine Laplante. Laplante was born April 20, 2001. She plans to major in exercise science at UMN Crookston.

"Morgan has such a mature head on her shoulders and a very high level of expectation of herself," Halfpop stated. "I think Morgan is going to bring in a lot of experience and a lot of leadership to our program. She can play in a variety of spots through the middle of the field and I think that versatility will be big for us. She's very good tactically and technically and will play an important role of us. I am very excited to work with Morgan."


Lanie Padelford (D, Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi H.S.)
Padelford helped Mahtomedi to the Minnesota 1A State Championship as a junior in 2019. She played club soccer for the Manitou Futbol Club 03 Sambas. Mahtomedi was state runner-ups in Class 1A in 2017 and 2018. Padelford played varsity as a junior. She helped Mahtomedi to 11 shutouts as a junior in 2019. Padelford was club teammates with fellow signee Abby Fettinger.

"I'm excited to start working with Lanie," Halfpop said. "She is such a versatile defender and is so composed on the ball. She is quick and fast and can break up the play with her excellent positioning and 1v1 defending skills. She can break lines with a pass and is deceptively strong. I can't wait to start working with her."


Emma Stempien (GK, 5-6, Plymouth, Mich./Canton H.S.)
Stempien played club soccer for the Michigan Jaguars FC CW3 squad. She competed in high school for Canton High School. She was a scholar-athlete at Canton H.S., and was on the honor roll every semester.

She is the daughter of Jennifer and Ken Stempien. Stempien was born March 13, 2002. She plans to major in biology at UMN Crookston. Her relative Brian Klozik played football at University of Findlay, while another relative Peter Klozik played baseball at Henry Ford College.

"Emma is a steady and consistent goalkeeper," Halfpop stated. "She has good shot stopping qualities and a lot of experience at a high level. She is comfortable with the ball at her feet which is important for us and suits our style of play. I'm excited for the competition she will bring in training to that position which we missed last year."