Women's Soccer | 8/10/2026 4:31:00 PM
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team was picked to finish 15th of 16 teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll released Monday by the conference office. The Golden Eagles received 35 points, ahead of Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Minnesota State University was selected to win the conference with 223 points and 13 first-place votes. Concordia University-St. Paul was picked to finish second with 204 points and three first-place votes.
Minnesota Crookston enters their second season under Head Coach Danny Burstein in 2026. The Golden Eagles showed marked improvement in 2025. They posted a 2-13-2 (1-12-2 NSIC) record last season. They scored three more goals last season, and were in seven one-goal games in 2025. Minnesota Crookston returns an experienced roster with nine starters returning from 2025, and 19 players back from last season's roster. Kedin Geremiah (Sr., MF/F, Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the team's Offensive Player to Watch. She played in 12 games a season ago, and had five shots for the squad, with two on goal.
"Kedin is a special player who can make things happen in attack," said Head Coach Danny Burstein. "She is dynamic with the ball at her feet and her skills can create openings for us in the final third. She has overcome past injuries to be on the field more than ever."
Emmah Burnes (Sr., MF, Tulare, Calif.) is the Defensive Player to Watch, and has been a stalwart in the middle of the park. Burnes started all 18 games last season and was an All-NSIC Second Team selection. She had the game-winning goal against Minnesota State University Moorhead.
"Emmah is one of our senior captains and a true leader for our team," stated Burstein. "She is a hard working player who pushes through hurdles to be on the field every game. She sets the tone in the locker room and on the field. Emmah anchors our midfield and controls the game for us."
The Golden Eagles also bring back Elise Lefers (Jr., MF/F, Brookings, S.D.) the team's leading goal scorer from a season prior, with two goals. Riley Edemann (So., D, Santa Clarita, Calif.) started all 18 games in the back line and had two assists. Marsia Green (Sr., MF/F, Waconia, Minn.) and Autumn Rabe (R-Jr., MF, Kewaskum, Wis.) also scored goals last season. In goal, Payton King (So., GK, Fairfield, Calif.) started nine games and posted a 1.41 goals against average, while Phoenix DeBrusk (So., GK, Thunder Bay, Ontario) appeared in one game as a freshman.
"We have a lot of returners this year that understand what we are working on as a team," Burstein remarked. "We have also added some players that we believe fit our needs and will help us elevate the level of play. It is exciting to see how we build on the previous season going into year two of a new staff and a new way of playing."
Sophia Haase of Concordia-St. Paul was named the NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Mila Rustin of Minnesota State was selected as the NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The Golden Eagles open the regular season August 27 at Montana State University Billings.
