Bison Athletic Hall of Fame to Induct Eight

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University will induct eight individuals into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 29. The 46th annual induction ceremony will bring the number of individuals enshrined in the Hall of Fame to 284.

The newest Bison Athletic Hall of Fame class includes women’s cross country and track & field All-American Pam Drietz Olsen (1991-95); baseball all-region pitcher Justin Fletschock (1994-97); volleyball All-American middle hitter Carrie (Jacobson) Motschenbacher (1996-99); women’s soccer All-American midfielder Lisa (Leach) Mueller (1997-00); men’s track & field All-American Brent Parmer (1992-1996); three-time wrestling national champion Steve Saxlund (1997-01); football/wrestling performer (1970-74), assistant football coach (1978-84), and current NDSU Team Makers executive director and senior associate athletic director Pat Simmers, and all-conference football fullback/linebacker Bill Sturdevant (1963-64).

The induction will take place in the Nodak Basketball Performance Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 29 with the induction ceremony to start at noon.

A limited number of tickets are available from the NDSU athletic department for a cost of $25 per ticket.  Please contact Helena Johnston at (701) 231-6172 or email Helena.Johnston@ndsu.edu.

The 2017 Bison Athletic Hall of Fame class will also be recognized at halftime of NDSU’s homecoming football game Saturday, Sept. 30, against Missouri State.

UMC Soccer 15th in NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn.– The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer program was picked to finish 15^thin the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Mon., Aug. 7 by the conference office. 

Minnesota Crookston enters their sixth season under Head Coach Joe Alianiello in 2017. The Golden Eagles will look to get back on track after a down season in 2016 as they finished with a 3-13-2 mark.

The U of M Crookston looks to be led by Lindsey Daml (So., MF, North Pole, Alaska) and Ellie Brettschneider (Sr., D, Lakeville, Minn.). Daml scored two goals and had nine shots on goal as a true freshman in 2016. Brettschneider has been a staple for Minnesota Crookston for her first three years, filling whatever role necessary either as a center back or in the central midfield.

The Golden Eagles return four starters from last season in Daml, Ellie Brettschneider, Nicole Corbin (Sr., D, Ramsey, Minn.) and Madison Korus (R-Jr., D, Arlington, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston will look to added help from several younger players as they have a talented recruiting class coming in and several returning players who will look to fill more prominent roles in 2017.

Minnesota State University, Mankato was picked to win the league for the sixth time since joining the NSIC in 2008. The Mavericks earned 11 first-place votes and 217 overall points. Augustana University was close behind with five first-place votes and 210 overall points, while Bemidji State University etted 188 points and was picked third.

Morgan Cottew, a forward from Minnesota State, was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, while Minot State defender Kelli Cresse from Minot State University was picked as the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year.

The Golden Eagles will open the 2017 season Sept. 1 against Lindenwood University. They will then play Maryville University Sept. 3. Both matches will be played in St. Paul, Minn.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. Minnesota Crookston sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

2017 NSIC Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Minnesota State (11)	217
2. Augustana (5)	210
3. Bemidji State	188
4. Minot State	187
5. St. Cloud State	165
6. Minnesota Duluth	160
7. Northern State	134
8. Concordia-St. Paul	119
9. Upper Iowa	107
10. Winona State	94
11. Wayne State	78
12. UMary	71
13. Sioux Falls	51
14. Southwest Minnesota State	50
15. Minnesota Crookston	45
16. MSU Moorhead	44
first place votes in ( )

UMC Women's Soccer Earns Awards

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s soccer team was one of a total of 164 high school and college teams recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award. They received the bronze level award for exhibiting fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the laws of the game.

Minnesota Crookston was selected based on the total number of cards received by players/coaches divided by the team’s total number of games played. UMC had just six cards in 18 games. The level of the award is calculated based on a percentage of cards per game. UMC was awarded at the bronze level because they received yellow cards in 33 percent of their games, so they were on the upper end of the bronze level (31-50%). 

The Golden Eagles concluded the 2016 season with a 3-13-2 mark. They will look to build on their mark heading into the 2017 slate. 

Rachel Scheller Named New Director of Operations for NDSU Women's Soccer

FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota State University head women's soccer coach Mark Cook announced on Wednesday, June 3, Rachel Scheller has been named the new director of soccer operations for the Bison.

Scheller will assist the NDSU coaching staff with team travel, game-day preparations, video exchange, camps and other administrative duties.

"We are really excited to have Rachel join the Bison soccer family," Cook said. "She brings hard work and dedication to everything she does, and she will be a tremendous asset to our program."

Prior to joining North Dakota State, Scheller spent four seasons playing soccer for Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn., as a defender under head coach Jim Stone.

In her career at BSU, Scheller appeared in 63 matches with 34 starts. She was named All-Academic by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and served on the Bemidji State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Scheller graduated from Bemidji State University with a bachelor's degree in marketing communications and minors in human performance and sport management.

She joins associate head coach Chris Logan and assistant coach Karli Kopietz on the Bison staff under Cook, who is entering his fourth season at the helm of the NDSU soccer program.

North Dakota State begins the 2015 season at home on Thursday, Aug. 13, against Viterbo in an exhibition match. Kickoff at Dacotah Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.

UMC Student-Athletes Earn NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston had nine student-athletes recognized as recipients of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award as announced the NSIC Commissioner Erin Lind.

The baseball team was the most recognized sport for UMC with Jesse Jennings (Sr., OF, Robbinsdale, Minn./Criminal Justice), Travis Magdzas (Sr., DH, Duluth, Minn./Criminal Justice) and Richie Navratil (Sr., P, Blansko, Czech Republic/Management) receiving the award. Women’s basketball had two student-athletes honored with Kenzie Church (Sr., F, Fairmount, N.D./Management) and Ashley Martell (Sr., G, Somerset, Wis./Health Science) earning the award. Soccer player Cayla Bendel (Sr., Lakeville, Minn./Natural Resources), men’s golfer Matt Bjorgo (Sr., Crookston, Minn./Natural Resources), football player Matt Borowicz (Sr., Stephen, Minn./Health Science) and volleyball player Brittany Looker (Sr., Rochester, Minn./Health Science) received the honor.

The Golden Eagles nine student-athletes were up from four last year. UMC had the fourth-most student-athletes along with Upper Iowa University, behind only Winona State University, University of Sioux Falls and Minnesota State University, Mankato.

The honor, named for the late NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand, is bestowed to senior NSIC student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher, are exhausting their eligibility and are on track to graduate. Each student-athlete will be recognized by the NSIC with a certificate of achievement and a wrist watch. Furthermore, each institution is highly encouraged to have these student-athletes be publicly recognized at a home athletic event. A total of 111 student-athletes from the NSIC’s 16 institutions will receive the award in its sixth year.

24 UMC Student-Athletes Selected to NSIC Fall All-Academic Team

BURNSVILLE, Minn.– The University of Minnesota Crookston had 24 student-athletes recognized on the 2014 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Fall All-Academic Team as released Tuesday afternoon by the conference office. The NSIC had 624 student-athletes earn NSIC All-Academic honors for the 2014 fall athletic season. UMC’s 24 student-athletes are an improved over 20 on the 2013 Fall All-Academic Team.

To be eligible for this honor, the student-athlete must be a member of the varsity traveling team and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better. Furthermore, the student-athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at her/his institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution.

The UMC football team had eight student-athletes recognized as NSIC Fall All-Academic performers including: Ben Bucholz (Jr., QB, Perham, Minn./Agricultural Business), Matt Borowicz (Sr., OL, Stephen, Minn./Health Science), Nathan Cole (So., QB, Aliso Viejo, Calif./Management), Tyman Hayashi (So., OL, Kalihi, Hawai’i/Environmental Science), Joe Machacek (So., OL, Eagan, Minn./Finance), Myint Maung (Sr., WR, St. Paul, Minn./Criminal Justice), Drew McDurmin (So., OL, Aiea, Hawai’i/Management) and Drew Selvestra (Jr., DL, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice). The Golden Eagle football team had six student-athletes recognized last season.

The Golden Eagle soccer team had 10 student-athletes recognized including Cayla Bendel (Sr., D/MF, Lakeville, Minn./Natural Resources), Samantha Deutsch (So., D, Lakeville, Minn./Accounting), Danielle Gau (So., D, Monticello, Minn./Health Science), Kallie Gau (So., MF/F, Monticello, Minn./Early Childhood Education), Lexie Gauger (So., GK, Green Bay, Wis./Criminal Justice), Delaney Kohorst (So., D, Cohasset, Minn./Marketing), Delaney McIntyre (Jr., MF, Flin Flon, Manitoba/Sports and Rec Management), Erin Mears (Sr., MF, Sioux Falls, S.D./Criminal Justice), Lindsey Paul (So., MF, Otsego, Minn./Communication) and Kary Sheppard (So., MF, Grand Rapids, Minn./Health Science). The UMC soccer team had seven individuals honored during the 2013 season.

The UMC volleyball team had six student-athletes honored including Casey Cashman (So., DS/Lib, Ashland, Wis./Natural Resources), Kali Erickson (So., OH, Fargo, N.D./Health Science), Brittany Looker (Sr., OH, Rochester, Minn./Health Science), Mary Mikutowski (Sr., Lib., Stillwater, Minn./Health Science), Stephanie Pearson (Jr., OH, Frankfort, Ill./Accounting) and Sierra Trost (So., S, Ham Lake, Minn./Biology). The Golden Eagle volleyball team had seven individuals recognized in 2013.

UMC Soccer Honored with NSCAA College Team Academic Award

 CROOKSTON, Minn. –  The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s soccer team was one of 585 collegiate women’s teams to earn the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College Team Academic Award for posting above a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher for the 2013-14 academic year. The Golden Eagles finished last season with a 3.31 GPA.

The Golden Eagles have continued to show improvement in the classroom under UMC head coach Joe Alianiello. UMC was honored last season with the award with a 3.17 GPA, but has continued to go above and beyond on-and-off the field. The Golden Eagles also had their best season under Alianiello, thus far, on the pitch, posting the team’s first-ever .500 record with a 6-6-6 (5-5-5 NSIC) mark, picking up a major win over a ranked Augustana College (S.D.) team and big draws against Winona State University, University of Minnesota Duluth and Upper Iowa University.

UMC Earns NSCAA Team Academic Award

CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s soccer team was one of 864 collegiate soccer teams (271 men and 593 women) who earned the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for maintaining a 3.0 grade point average or above for the 2012-13 academic year.

“I am very pleased for the program that we have earned the 2012-2013 NSCAA Team Academic Award,” UMC head soccer coach Joe Alianiello said. “It shows just how committed the program is to success on and off the field.  This award will be a goal of ours every year and I look forward to the team earning it again next year. “

The Minnesota Crookston women’s soccer team, now in their second year under head coach Joe Alianiello, maintained a 3.17, as they have shown marked improvement on the pitch and in the classroom under Alianiello’s direction. Also announced today were seven members of the 2013 team who earned NSIC Fall All-Academic honors in the classroom, up from three last season, indicating the hard work the Golden Eagles are putting into their academics.

 For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

NDSU's Miller named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week in Soccer

ELMHURST, Ill. – North Dakota State women's soccer freshman midfielder Lauren Miller was named The Summit League Offensive Player of the Week after netting three goals in the Bison's pair of wins last week.

In Friday's 3-2 win against the Idaho Vandals, Miller scored the go-ahead goal in the 66^th minute with her one-timer from 20 yards out. On Sunday, she scored two of the three Bison goals in the 3-1 victory against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Her first strike occurred in the 38^th minute on a breakaway before her second goal found the back of the net in the 52^nd minute of the match.

For the week, the St. Louis Park, Minn. native tallied three goals, including a game-winner, for six points while all six of her shots were on goal.

The Bison return to the pitch Wednesday afternoon when they travel to Grand Forks to battle rival North Dakota beginning at 4:30 p.m.

NDSU Fan Day is August 20 at Gate City Bank Field in the Fargodome

FARGO, N.D. – Bison fans can circle Tuesday, Aug. 20 on their calendar for North Dakota State University Athletics Fan Day presented by Great Clips, providing the best opportunity for fans to meet and greet this year's teams.
 
Fan Day is free and open to the public and will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gate City Bank Field in the Fargodome with Bison fall sports teams and coaches in attendance. There will be inflatable games from Games Galore and an interactive zone, along with free NDSU yard signs, posters, prizes, schedule cards and more. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Great gift bag from Great Clips.

NDSU soccer will also be hosting its first game at Dacotah Field on Aug. 20 -- a 7 p.m. exhibition match with Bemidji State. Admission is free, and Bison players will be available to sign autographs following the contest.
 
For more information, contact the NDSU athletics marketing office at (701) 231-9473.



A reminder that NDSU football games can be heard again this season on 96.7 KKCQ FM

McIntyre Joins UMC Soccer as Assistant Coach

 

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s soccer program has announced the addition of Betsey McIntyre as assistant coach. She is the first assistant hired under UMC head coach Joe Alianiello who took over the reins of the Golden Eagle women’s soccer program in 2012.

“We are very excited about the addition of Betsey to our staff,” Alianiello said. “Her background as a college soccer player is a huge plus for us. The girls are all looking forward to the chance to work with Betsey and excited about what she can bring to the team with her extensive background at various levels of soccer.”

McIntyre, originally from East Grand Forks, Minn., was an accomplished midfielder during her time on the pitch at Mayville State University and College of St. Scholastica. The former Betsey Palmiscno was a 2005 All-Region III Independent selection as a sophomore at Mayville State after scoring four goals. She served as team captain as a sophomore for the Comets. The following year she transferred to College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., where she would play her final two seasons of collegiate soccer. She helped lead the Saints to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular-season championship in 2006. McIntyre had three goals and one assist as a senior for the Saints in 2007, helping St. Scholastica capture both the regular-season and post-season championship in the UMAC. She also helped her squad advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament during the 2007 season.

“I am ecstatic about joining Coach Alianiello and the rest of the women on the team,” McIntyre said. “I look forward to getting started and helping to build UMC women’s soccer into a competitive force in the Division II circuit.”

McIntyre graduated from College of St. Scholastica in 2008 with her degree in elementary education. She has spent the last three years teaching third grade at Highland Elementary School in Crookston. McIntyre received the Outstanding Service to Pirate Youth (OSPY) award for outstanding second to fifth grade teacher from Crookston Public Schools following the 2012-13 academic year. She will continue to teach at Highland Elementary School while serving as UMC women’s soccer assistant coach.

In addition to her teaching duties, McIntyre has also remained active in the soccer community serving as vice president and spring recreation coordinator for the Crookston Youth Soccer Association (CYSA). In addition, she has assisted the girl’s soccer teams at Duluth East High School and Crookston High School, as well as serving as a student assistant coach for the College of St. Scholastica.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).