Women's Soccer | 8/14/2025 10:09:00 AM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team was picked to finish 16th in the NSIC Preseason Soccer Coaches' Poll released Thursday morning by the conference office. The Golden Eagles are in their first season of a new era under Head Coach Danny Burstein.

Minnesota State University was picked to finish first in the poll with 14 first-place votes. Concordia University-St. Paul was selected second, and had one first-place vote. Bemidji State was notched third, while St. Cloud State was picked fourth, with one first-place vote.

The Golden Eagles have a strong core returning, but will have a fresh look with new leadership with Burstein, and Assistant Coach Breezie Davis. Minnesota Crookston has 10 players who earned starting experience in 2024 back in the fold. Sarah Burgum (Sr., F, Mandan, N.D.), Tessa VanOverbeke (Jr., D/MF, Hartford, S.D.), Emmah Burnes (Jr., MF, Tulare, Calif.), Julia Finch (Sr., D/MF, Woodbury, Minn.), Anna Kuecker (So., Marshall, Minn.), Jordan Metz (So., GK, Lino Lakes, Minn.), and Kali Yates (Jr., D, Hedgesville, W.V.) all started over half the team's contests last season. Sydney Christopherson (So., MF/F, Sioux Falls, S.D.), Elise Lefers (So., MF/F, Brookings, S.D.), Andrea Cuenca Medina (So., MF, South St. Paul, Minn.), and Callie Holthaus (So., MF/F, Richmond, Minn.) all started games in 2024. Emma Dudycha (Jr., D, Austin, Minn.), Kedin Geremiah (Jr., F, Winnipeg, Manitoba), Marsia Green (Jr., MF/F, Waconia, Minn.), and Riley Martin (So., D, San Dimas, Calif.) all appeared in games last season, while Autumn Rabe (R-So., MF/F, Kewaskum, Wis.) redshirted.

The Golden Eagles also have eight newcomers joining the fold in 2025 with freshman newcomers: Riley Edemann (D, Santa Clarita, Calif.), Maeva Lucas (MF, Delano, Minn.), Lilly Goehring (MF, Hartford, S.D.), Aleisha Cortez (MF, South St. Paul, Minn.), Payton King (GK, Fairfield, Calif.), and Phoenix DeBrusk (GK, Thunder Bay, Ontario). Norah Lutz (D, Dewitt, Mich.) joins the U of M Crookston as a transfer from Aquinas College in Michigan, while Evelyn Dupont (Las Vegas, Nev.) comes over after running two years of cross country for the Golden Eagles.

"This is going to be a big learning year for us," Burstein stated. "It's always exciting for the first season and to see where we are. I'm looking forward to the players showing what they have and working hard to turn this program around. It's going to be a process but it's been great to see the response from the team as we move in a new direction."

Lefers was chosen as the program's NSIC Offensive Player to Watch after showing what she was capable of during the spring season with Burstein. Lefers appeared in 15 games, starting three as a freshman, with one shot on goal in 522 minutes.

"Elise is a player with the ability to drive toward the goal," Burstein remarked. "She has put in a lot of work to be ready for this season and I'm excited to see how her pace will help us create chances. Elise got some exposure last year but I think she has grown a lot since then and can have a bigger impact."

VanOverbeke was a crucial player for the Golden Eagles last season, showing versatility to play all around the pitch. She was selected as the program's NSIC Defensive Player to Watch. VanOverbeke started all 18 games, had an assist, and four shots in 1,531 minutes.

"Tessa is a big piece of our team, having played almost every minute last season," Burstein said. "She will be a constant on the field for us and help lead us. This team has had better defensive performances over the last couple of years and Tessa will help us elevate that this season so we can build the foundation of how we attack."

The squad had a much improved defense in 2024, improving their goals against average from 3.72 in 2023 to 2.39. They are still looking for the marked improvement offensively.

Bemidji State's Katrina Barthelt was selected as the NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Minnesota State's Kiera Laney was picked as the NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Golden Eagles commence the regular season Thursday, September 4 at Upper Iowa University.