Mark Privratsky

The 2023 Season started with over 120 Minnesotans playing D1. Of those, 12 lucky (or not?) players from Minnesota have ended their regular season as Conference Champs, which reminds us how hard it is for most teams to win trophies. With the exception of Clare Gagne and the Brown 4 peat in the Ivy League, you can't expect to be on top year after year. This year we have Champions from Lipscomb, Nebraska, UW Milwaukee, Brown, Drake, Army and Denver, with plenty of local rivals eager to knock them off in the upcoming playoffs. Will South Dakota State get revenge on Denver and go back to the Tournament? Can Brown make a historic run after the 4 peat? Will Drake or UNI's MN squad reign supreme in the Missouri Valley? As always, ESPN+ and the Summit League Network are your best friends for catching D1 Minnesotans, with BTN+ and big BTN showing plenty as well. We focused on playoffs that are easily watchable and with the most Minnesotans who contribute, so there will be some players missed! 

Mark Privratsky

The regular season is nearly done and we've got Minnesotans fighting for Conference crowns. In the Summit League, Megan Prazich and Denver look read to win the title unless SDSU can catch them with help from their Dakota rivals. South Dakota is likely safely in the playoffs, but North Dakota, St Thomas and NDSU will have to scrap for a final birth in the postseason as they sit outside the top 6. In the Missouri Valley, Drake sits in 1st off more Angela Gutierrez contributions and UNI's Minnesota 5 is hoping for a miracle comeback. In the Horizon League, Clara Broecker and UW Milwaukee are rolling with a 6 point lead in the final weekend. Catch up on 120+ Minnesotans playing D1 and stay tuned for postseason coverage!

​Denver are the one Summit League team left unbeaten, and if you’ve watched some of their games, you may have noticed a Megan Prazich sized reason why. The Maple Grove native has locked in a spot in Center defense and has only sat out 12 minutes all season, holding down a Denver squad that has given up just 4 goals in 6 Summit League games. Denver play at North Dakota State on Thursday, Oct 19 and at North Dakota, Sunday October 22. Both of those squads have an outside chance of postseason play and will be desperate for points. Denver has to win both games, or hope that South Dakota State also drops points, as they sit 4 points back with 1 game in hand. 

​It comes down to Denver and South Dakota State. South Dakota State need Denver to drop points against UND and NDSU, while the Jacks also win out their remaining games at Oral Roberts, at Kansas City, and vs Omaha at home, Tues Oct 24. If Denver does drop points this weekend, SDSU will be in control, as the 24th is a make up game from earlier this fall, so they will know if they have a chance. South Dakota is comfortably in the playoffs coming into the final weekend, sitting in 3rd and ahead UND, St Thomas and NDSU.

​The top 6 team make the Summit League Tournament, and there are a bunch of Minnesotans on the outside looking in. UND, St Thomas and NDSU sit in at 7,8 and 9 and will need the best weekends of their season to clinch the 6 seed or better. St Thomas hosts North Dakota, Thurs, Oct 19 in a game that will go a long way in sealing either teams fate. NDSU has to host Denver and hope St Thomas and North Dakota drop all the points possible to sneak in. St Thomas has the easiest two games, hosting Omaha after the matchup with UND, while UND has to host Denver to end the season. Confused? Stay tuned to Equal Time for more coverage as the seeds get set. 

The Missouri Valley is coming down to the weekend of play and Minnesotans are fair to have a rooting interest. Drakes sits on 19 points, 1 ahead of Missouri State and 4 ahead of UNI with a couple to play. Drake plays at Murray State (ESPN+, Thurs, Oct 19 3pm) and at Belmont (ESPN+ Sun, Oct 22, Noon), and if they win out, they win the Missouri Valley Conference crown. UNI have an outside chance, hosting Valporaiso and Illinois State at home. They need to win out and hope for dropped points or tie breakers at this point. Either way we should see some fireworks in the Missouri Valley Tournament. 

​UW Milwaukee are undefeated and clinch the Horizon League with just a point from their last two games (at Oakland Sat, 21st Noon, vs Green Bay on Oct 25 at 7pm) Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Milwaukee is lead by Veteran Clara Broecher who has started every game, and has 4 goals and 2 assists this year. Catch their final 2 games on ESPN+ and follow Clara and the Panthers through the postseason as the Horizon League Tournament kicks off November 2 and 4. 

​Alabama State
Kassandra Schoen - 4 goals, 557 minutes in 14 games
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Brisha Musungu - 4 goals, 1 assist, 1298 minutes in 16 games
 
Army
Jordan Hecht - DNP
Hannah Pohlidal - 6 minutes in 1 game

Auburn
Maddie Lo - 0.00 GAA, 33 minutes played in 2 games
 
Austin Peay
Hannah Zahn - 1 goal, 1103 minutes in 17 games
 
Boston College
Andi Barth - 1 assist, 613 minutes in 10 games
 
Brown
Clare Gagne - .48 GAA, 25 saves, 5 shutouts in 11 games
 
Denver
Shay Payne - DNP
Megan Prazich - 1338 minutes in 15 games
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Drake
Brooke Davies - 1 assist, 491 minutes in 16 games
Delaney Goertzen - 594 minutes in 12 games
Angela Gutierrez - 4 goals, 4 assists, 845 minutes in 14 games
 
​Florida Atlantic
Mia Sennes - 177 minutes in 6 games
 
Idaho State
Sienna Latta - 1 goal, 345 minutes in 14 games

Illinois State
Katharine Ashley - 1161 minutes in 14 games
Erica Moline - 283 minutes in 10 games

Kansas State
Porter List - 2 assists, 620 minutes in 17 games
Rilyn Rintoul - 555 minutes in 13 games

Kent State
Luca Ralph - 401 minutes in 15 games
 
Lipscomb
Lydia Hindt - 2 goals, 2 assists, 944 minutes in 18 games
 
Long Beach State
Katarina Decaroli - 48 minutes, 5.66 GAA in 2 games
 
Loyola Chicago
Amanda Cassidy - 2 goals, 1 assist, 1324 minutes in 16 games
Jordan Pascarella - 277 minutes in 5 games
 
Marquette
Chloe Olson - 1.54 GAA, 7 saves, 233 minutes in 3 games
Abby Ruhland - DNP
 
​Minnesota
Sophia Barjesth - 335 minutes in 10 games
Alma Beaton - 17 minutes in 2 games
Sophia Boman - 5 goals, 5 assists, 1294 minutes in 15 games
Grace Fogarty - DNP
Abi Frandsen - 1 goal, 1167 minutes in 14 games
Khyah Harper - 3 assists, 628 minutes in 14 games
Sadie Harper - 1 goal, 353 minutes in 12 games
Taylor Heimerl - 1 assist, 495 minutes in 12 games
Paige Kalal - 1 goal, 2 assists, 758 minutes in 15 games
Sarah Martin - DNO
Megan Plaschko - .81 GAA, 40 saves, 7 shutouts, 1327 minutes in 15 games
Maddy Raymond - 15 minutes in 2 games
Maddie Shannon - DNP
Kendall Stadden - 16 minutes in 2 games
Jelena Zbiljic - 581 minutes in 12 games
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Navy
Emma Frommelt - 1 goal, 1 assist, 217 minutes in 8 games
 
Nebraska
Lauren Buzzell - DNP
 
North Carolina 
Maddie Dahlien - 1 goal, 2 assists, 383 minutes in 13 games
 
North Carolina-Ashville
Ava Bjorkman-Tracy - 1 assist, 1047 minutes in 15 games
 
North Dakota
Katie Alto - DNP
Sydney Bakritzes - DNP
Jessica Machovec - 21 minutes in 3 games
Avery Toms - 379 minutes in 15 games

NDSU
Paige Goaley - 2 goals, 2 assists, 936 minutes in 16 games
Madalyn Grate - 2 assists, 270 minutes in 11 games
Jess Hanley - 1 goal, 2 assists, 876 minutes in 12 games
Kaitlyn Hanson - 752 minutes in 12 games
Kelsey Kallio - 2 goals, 3 assists, 759 minutes in 16 games
Olivia Lovick - 811 minutes in 16 games
Maddie Majewski - 47 minutes in 3 games
Izzy Smith - DNP
Ave Stanchina - 1 goal, 1 assist, 550 minutes in 16 games
Mckenna Strand - 1 assist, 703 minutes in 13 games
Loretta Wacek - 1 goal, 1 assist, 594 minutes in 13 games
Olivia Watson - 4 goals, 1 assist, 1104 minutes in 15 games

Northeastern
Lauren Ahles - 5 goals, 1 assist, 626 minutes in 15 games
Jessie Hunt - 6 goals, 9 assists, 1158 minutes in 15 games
 
Northern Illinois University
Jordyn Saddler - DNP
 
Northern Iowa
Morgan Barnette - 2 goals, 534 minutes in 16 games
Olivia Bohl - 2 assists, 1245 minutes in 16 games
Lauren Heinsch - 6 goals, 3 assists, 1042 minutes in 16 games
Olivia Knoepfle - 7 goals, 5 assists, 891 minutes in 16 games
Jenna Nyblom - 20 minutes in 2 games
 
Northwestern
Ramira Ambrose - 33 minutes in 4 games
Sydney Panek - 4 minutes in 1 game
 
Notre Dame
Paige Peltier - 118 minutes in 7 games
 
Omaha
Grace Bartlam - 1 assist, 243 minutes in 10 games
Lindsey Birch - 383 minutes in 13 games
 
Oregon State
Anna Wagner - 69 minutes in 4 games
 
​Penn State
Kaitlyn MacBean - 5 goals, 1 assist, 965 minutes in 15 games
 
Seton Hall
Ella Conger - 49 minutes in 4 games
 
South Dakota State
Kayla Anderson - 2 goals, 2 assists, 668 minutes in 14 games
Katelyn Beulke - 4 goals, 2 assists, 547 minutes in 14 games
Lauren Eckerle - 1 assist, 783 minutes in 10 games
Ava Grate - DNP
Maya Hansen - 5 goals, 1 assist, 376 minutes in 7 games
Katherine Jones - 2 goals, 2 assists, 978 minutes in 14 games
Emma Knack - 0.64 GAA, 2 saves, 141 minutes in 4 games
Jocelyn Tanner - .88 GAA, 33 Saves, 4 shutouts, 1120 minutes in 14 games
 
South Dakota
Brooklyn Bordson - 2 assists, 891 minutes in 15 games
Izzy Quintavalle - 1 goal, 5 assists, 930 minutes in 15 games

Southern Illinois
Madeline Hobbs - 17 minutes in 3 games
 
SIU-Edwardsville
Mary Fetter - 1 goal, 615 minutes in 14 games
 
St Thomas
Abby Brantner - 2 goals, 1057 minutes in 13 games
Ella Bryant - 166 minutes in 8 games
Sofia Caballero - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1011 minutes in 13 games
Annika Eckroth - 44 minutes in 1 game
Emma Fournier - 1 goal, 440 minutes in 13 games
CJ Fredkove - 1 goal, 157 minutes in 8 games
Jasmine Gates - 1 goal, 3 assists, 542 minutes in 10 games
Olivia Graupmann - 0.00 GAA, 0 Saves, 18 minutes in 1 game
Abby Hoiska - 1 goal, 1 assist, 252 minutes in 12 games
Lexi Huber - 2 goals, 2 assists, 667 minutes in 13 games
Cedar Jorgenson - 234 minutes in 10 games
Molly Knoblauch - 1 goal, 809 minutes in 13 games
Anna Koepke - 144 minutes in 5 games
Sydney Kubes - 446 minutes in 10 games
McKenna Lehman - 84 minutes in 8 games
Bella Meier - 254 minutes in 9 games
Lissa Mizutani - 1 goal, 870 minutes in 13 games
Mariah Nguyen - 5 goals, 2 assists, 823 minutes in 13 games
Kendall Quall - 1089 minutes in 13 games
Camryn Rintoul - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1007 minutes in 13 games
Olivia Rowe - 1.41 GAA, 64 saves, 1153 minutes in 13 games
Tatum Trettel - 81 minutes in 6 games
 
Stetson University
Alexis Smith - 725 minutes in 16 games
 
University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley
Ana Recarte-Pacheco - 2 goals, 537 minutes in 8 games
 
Utah Tech 
Madison Monson - 49 minutes in 3 games
 
Wake Forest
Payton Cahill - 0.75 GAA, 4 saves, 2 shutouts, 360 minutes in 4 games
 
Western Illinois 
Emmy Ellington - 1248 minutes in 14 games
Rita Moran - 1 assist, 1020 minutes in 14 games
 
Wisconsin
Dara Adringa - 166 minutes in 13 games
Maddie Ishaug - 1 assist, 1428 minutes
Kenzie Jacobson - 1 assist, 117 minutes in 11 games
Maddie Poor - 206 minutes in 8 games

Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Clara Broecker - 4 goals, 2 assists, 1193 minutes in 14 games
Alyssa Marceau - 7 minutes in 1 game

Mark Privratsky

​If you talk to players and coaches in the Northern Sun, you will run across the saying, “anything can happen in the NSIC”. While we typically take that to expect an odd upset or a scrappy draw from a lower table squad, this year it seems a bit more significant. Last years NSIC tournament field featured #4 seed Minot State, #6 Winona State and #7 U Mary (and yes the table was tight overall in terms of seeds). Having played over half of the conference season, all 3 sit outside of playoff contention, having won just 1 of their first 7-8 games. Who’s to blame for the apple cart wobbling? St Cloud State sits atop the NSIC at 6-1-1 after missing the playoffs last year, Northern State is unbeaten in 8, and both Wayne State and Sioux Falls are sneaking out results that they didn’t last year. Bemidji and Mankato remain unbeaten, Concordia St Paul is holding their own at 3-2-2, while UMD, Moorhead State and Southwest MN State sit just outside the 8 team playoff field. The next two weeks will show us if St Cloud is as serious as they look, if the mid table Minnesota squads can step up, and if Bemidji and Mankato take their typical places at the top of the NSIC Tournament bracket.  

​Coming into last Sunday, Moorhead players likely felt like they deserved a few more points from their season so far. In NSIC play, they give up less than a goal a game, and have had solids results. They lost 1-0 to Northern State and Bemidji State, both teams in solid top 4 positions. They drew Wayne State and Sioux Falls, both in playoff spots, and now finally, victory. Moorhead gets their first win of the Conference season in the annual Northwest Minnesota Derby. MN Crookston and MN State Moorhead play for the epic “ Highway 75 Rivalry Rock”. For squads who don’t typically challenge for the NSIC crown, this is a great chance to win silverware. The current wrinkle to this rivalry features a certain all time leading scorer for one squad coaching on the other side and that makes it all the more dramatic (dig into the Equal Time archives). The Dragons face UMD this Friday in a game with huge playoff berth implications. 

​Call me a Coach with a cliche in hand, but sometimes a tie feels like a win. St Cloud State is in the midst of a renaissance year, with 6 wins in their first 8 NSIC games, including a huge draw in Mankato, where no one likes to play on the Mavericks “Pitch”. The results may very well have been a confidence boost, as they followed it up with an away Sunday afternoon win over Concordia St Paul. In past years, the Huskies probably dreaded the toughest road trip you can take in the NSIC, and this year they got 4 points. St Cloud is a consistent and balanced team. In attack, they’ve got five players making 4 or more goal contributions in 12 games. They’ve got a First Year keeper Jaylee Strickland from Columbus, Ohio who has started every game for them and backstopped a defense that gives up less than a goal a game. This weekend they face a huge test at Northern State before facing a pretty manageable back stretch that features Moorhead, Sioux Falls, Southwest MN State, Winona State and Crookston. St Cloud looks legit and is primed to be in a good spot for the NSIC Tournament. 

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​The Beavers have been here before. They know the NSIC season is going to at times be a grind, like a 5 hour bus drive to Marshall that ends with a 1-1 draw to end September, or the possibly too close for comfort 1-0 win over Moorhead at home last Friday. However, they remain unbeaten in NSIC play after a home draw with (also unbeaten) Northern State this past weekend put 2 points back of St Cloud with a game in hand . Their ultimate goal is another trip to the NCAA’s and they know the most important thing is to be in form when it counts. This weekend the Beavers go to North Dakota  to face down on their fortunes Minot State and U Mary, who’ve both dropped early results this year in the NSIC. The weekend of October 20 brings Augustana and Wayne State to town for two big home games.  

The Bulldogs had a brutal road trip to end September, losing to perennial contenders MN State Mankato and Concordia St Paul. Cue a visit from the North Dakota schools and a potential Equal Time Bump and you’ve got a renewed playoff race for UMD. After the tough road losses, we talked to Jackie Jares about the challenge of taking a step up in this league, and how she leads this team as a Captain. That weekend she score the lone goal against U Mary to secure a much needed point at home. Jackie and the dogs followed that up with a big 1-0 win over Minot to put themselves just outside the playoff spots. This weekend UMD travels to Moorhead and Northern State in two difficult games. Next weekend they host Southwest MN State and Sioux Falls in what will be must win games. Get to know UMD's leading scorer Anna Tobias below on "Bark and the Bite"!