Softball | 1/15/2025 2:14:00 PM

Crookston, Minn. – The first season under new University of Minnesota Crookston Softball head coach Ashton Sangster will be here before we know it with the Golden Eagles getting underway in the month of January for the first time in school history.

The Golden Eagles open up the season in the Branson Lead-Off Classic on January 31, taking on East Central University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Branson, MO.

Minnesota Crookston will play 27 non-conference games, traveling across four different states, playing games in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Florida.

23 of the 27 non-conference games for the Golden Eagles will be Division II opponents, which should set the stage for their NSIC slate.

Minnesota Crookston begins conference play on March 22 and 23 with double headers at home against Southwest Minnesota State University, and Concordia St. Paul.

The home portion of the schedule consists of 14 games across seven dates, with each date being a double header.

The Golden Eagles will take a break from conference play on April 23 to take the trip down Highway 2 to play Division I opponent, University of North Dakota. This will be the second meeting between the two schools, with the first meeting coming last year.

Minnesota Crookston will finish out the regular season on the road, for the final weekend of conference play, taking on Northern State on April 26 and MSUM on April 27.

The Golden Eagles return a number of key players in their lineup including Whitnee Curry (Sr., MIF, Lincoln, Neb), Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa), Rayna French (So., C, La Salle, Manitoba), and Sophie Juntunen (Jr., 1B, St. Michael, Minn.), among others.

Minnesota Crookston also returns Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) and Evie Stuck (Sr., P, Papillon, Neb.), who will look to lead the pitching staff in the circle.

The Golden Eagles open up 2025 in Branson, Mo., squaring off with East Central for the first time in program history.