Author: Mark Privratsky

We are past the halfway point of NSIC play, and some familiar patterns are emerging. Minnesota State Mankato is the only team left undefeated and looks near impossible to score on with only 4 goals given up in 12 games. St Cloud is on a run of draws through tough NSIC territory but now ends with almost all non-playoff-positioned opponents, and some potential for their second straight at large NCAA birth. Bemidji State has been stingy with just a goal against them in the last five, besting Sioux Falls, Winona, SW MN State, Northern State and MSU Moorhead. We'll dive into the NSIC and NCAA playoff chances of the Northern Sun squads, games to watch in the coming weeks, and a shoutout to Ink Blot Sports for some insight into postseason calculations. 

​The mysteries of postseason birth selection are becoming less mysterious at Equal Time as we discovered a source called Inkblot Sports, run by Phillip Myers, who models exactly that. Inkblot covers all D2 sports and has been insightful in providing a model similar to the one used by the NCAA to select at large postseason births. As of now, only the undefeated MN State Mankato and the St Cloud State are predicted be in from the NSIC from an at large selection standpoint. Mankato faces a 6 game end stretch where only half are NSIC playoff prospects, so we wouldn't expect any change to their status. St Cloud State's record (6-2-4 overall, 3-1-4 in NSIC) isn't as impressive as the Mavericks, but because they've played virtually all of their toughest NSIC games, their "Performance Index" is still strong enough (6th in the Central Region -- 8 teams make the NCAAs from the Central) AND they face an easier back stretch of almost no NSIC playoff hopefuls. 

Using the Inkblot sourced postseason projector and the basic eyeball scan of the standings, a slate of Northern Sun teams still have the potential to be an at large squad. In basically a statistical tie, Mary, Augie, BSU, CSP, Minot State and Northern State are all just out of the 8th position based on Performance Index and RPI. Bemidji has some momentum with their win streak, but still has to face MN State Mankato, Augustana, Wayne, and CSP to close out. They'll need to pick up some big wins and maybe make a deep NSIC Tournament run to feel more confident (something they've done before). Mary has already faced a heavy list of opponents, losing only to MN State Mankato, beating Augie and drawing St Cloud to show their resilience this year. Many of these squads still face each other, and will have another chance in the NSIC Playoffs. But with so many NSIC teams so close, all of these bubble teams will likely need wins in the Conference tournament (or to literally win the conference tournament and its automatic bid) to feel confident about NCAA chances -- which could mean we only see 2 make it. We'll see! Lots of great soccer to go!

Yes we are only halfway through the regular season of Northern Sun play, but certain teams' fates are essentially going to be decided in the next few weeks. Let's dig into the teams that are on the edge of NSIC playoff contention. For the teams mentioned in the section above, nothing is guaranteed but they've got some cushion. For the squads sitting outside the top 8, there is a clear challenge to overcome and just 7-8 games to do it. Wayne State sits in 8th, with previously mentioned Minot State in 9th but reaping the reward of a tougher schedule when it comes to their outside NCAA at large hopes. Winona sits tied with Minot in a cluster of 8 schools separated by just 5 points. If you think you could pick how the standings will end of with that group of 8, buy a lotto ticket today. Sioux Falls has picked up a few wins to make a theoretical playoff run possible, but more likely for them, Crookston, SW MN State, Moorhead and UMD will be a focus on developing and seeing what type of run you can make to prepare for the next season. 

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Author: Mark Privratsky

We are early in the Northern Sun Conference season, 3-4 games out of 14 total, but we're already seeing some typical trends from past years. MN State Mankato is rolling with four wins over NSIC contenders U Mary, Minot State, CSP, and Augustana. They have one of the toughest defenses in the NSIC, giving up just 2 goals in 14 games, backstopped by a keeper partnership of Lauren McAlpine and Clare Longueville. Crookston took the ending of their pointless streak one step further and beat Sioux Falls to take a genuine step forward from 2023. Concordia St Paul have mostly won the games you'd expect, but now they'll need to run up some points to solidify their postseason standing with a tough run vs St Cloud, UMD and Augustana. Bemidji State look in good position to rebound from a tough early matchup with defending NSIC Champs St Cloud State with a few easier games. We will dig into games to watch in the coming weeks, recap the results from the past few round of NSIC play, and look back to our interview with past MSU Moorhead Head Coach and Crookston Hall of Famer Christie Kopietz.

#13 MN State Mankato is off to a picture perfect NSIC start. They've gone 4-0 against four likely Conference Tournament foes. Like past seasons the Mavs score plenty of goals, but perhaps more impressively, give up almost none. Through 8 games, they've given up just 2 (scoring 12), and credit has to be given to the split partnership of Lauren McAlpine and Clare Longueville in net. From '21-'23, Mackenzie Rath held down the keeper spot in Mankato and played one of the most accomplished careers that a keeper can in the NSIC. A career that was validated with a San Diego Wave short term contract this fall after showing out for MN Aurora 2 as well this summer. Sophmore Lauren McAlpine (Shoreview) and Senior Clare Longueville (Eagan) have been apart of a lock down defense that allows .25 goals a game, good for 8th nationally. MN State Mankato faces UMD and St Cloud St away this weekend, with the potential to really send a message to the other NSIC contenders if they continue their win streak. The Mavs then have a more favorable run of 5 lower table games to follow, with plenty of potential for momentum to be built. 

Bemidji State ended 2023 in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament, having bested NSIC rival St Cloud State in the first round (after 2 other wins in the regular season and NSIC Tourney). The Huskies returned most of last years championship squad, and just over a week ago those players got their revenge for last years losses with a 2-1 win in St Cloud. The Beavers still sit at 2-1 in the NSIC after a lone 1-0 win over Sioux Falls last weekend, and they will have plenty of winnable games coming up. This weekend BSU faces Winona and Southwest MN State at home and would want to get all 6 points. Next weekend its away to Northern State and MSU Moorhead, before a home slate vs Minot and Mary. Bemidji will want to be on solid footing from this middle slate of NSIC games, as they end with Augustana, MN State Mankato, CSP and UMD ahead of postseason play. 

Concordia had to sneak past MSU Moorhead last sunday to even up their NSIC record at 2-2. It was a win they needed after a tough 1-2 home loss to Northern State, and their urgency showed, putting up a 24-1 shot advantage (15 on goal). Now the Golden Bears need to hope they can convert just a shot or two more a game as they face a challenging stretch of opponents. CSP goes to St Cloud this friday for shot at the champs, and then up to Duluth for a tough matchup with UMD. Next weekend they have to drive to Augustana for fridays game, before heading back to St Paul for a game against a Wayne State squad that is looking competitive early. An early bright spot for the Golden Bears has been Senior Amaya O'Hearn from Wausau, Wis. Amaya has a goal and 5 assists already in 8 games this year, surpassing her previous career totals. Amaya has plenty of teammates to set up, with 6 CSP players having multiple goal contibutions already, including Sammy Ponsonby (4g,1a), Sydney Manthana (3g), Ashley Bennett (2g, 1a) and Sophia King (2g, 1a) and Sophia Haase (2a).

We spend plenty of time talking about NCAA Tournament runs and NSIC Championships, but every year there are way more teams and players that don't get a shiny award for their season than the ones that do. Most teams don't get a ring or trophy for their work, but they find the rewards in growing as a squad and individually, and for accomplishing their collective goals together. After a brutal 2023 where they didn't get a point, UM Crookston is clearly taking their first steps to building a new culture. After breaking the pointless streak against Black Hills State, the Golden Eagles had a respectable 0-3 loss at Bemidji, and a tough 0-1 loss to UMD at home. They came back in a huge way last weekend with a gutsy 2-1 comeback win at Sioux Falls. With plenty of credit to go around, we still have to start with Brooklyn Fischbach. We clipped her two goals below so you can watch the drama and reaction from the players. With Crookston down 1-0 in the 72nd minute, the Sioux Falls keeper hits a punt to mid field, a Crookston player heads it first back into Sioux Falls territory where Brooklyn Fischbach has made the run to goal, and hits it far post past the keeper. Time is running out as Crookston gets a corner with 1 minute left. Who else? Fischbach gets to it first, makes sure to head in down towards goal, and the Golden Eagles celebrate as you'd expect they would. Crookston faces Southwest MN State, Winona St and MSU Moorhead next, in their best chances to get some more NSIC points, before a wild slate of 8 potential NSIC Tournament teams to close the regular season. 

ICYMI: Last week we had a repeat guest and now NSIC insider Christie Kopietz to talk about the Northern Sun, coach/life balance and more! Fine a complete archive of all or our shows on our Equal Time YouTube page

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Author: Mark Privratsky

The 2024 NSIC Kickoff Weekend is upon us! The non conference gave us a glimpse of what to expect in the Northern Sun, but we know it really comes down to how ​these squads face off against each other. To get you ready for the weekend, we'll catch you up on St Cloud State's wild schedule to begin their season as defending champs, dig into UM Crookston's hopeful start in a potential rebound year, and the local teams who made the Central Region rankings. We will highlight the Games of the Week, Jenny Vetter making her Pro debut with Spokane Vephyr, Mackenzie Rath signing with San Diego Wave and share our interview with UMD star Anna Tobias. 

Coming off their first ever NSIC Title, the Huskies return most of their minutes played from last year, along with a slate of newcomers hoping to build on last years momentum. St Cloud had a solid test in non conference, playing NCAA Tourney teams Michigan Tech (L 0-1) and Northern Michigan (W 2-1), before besting two other regional opponents in Roosevelt (W 2-0) and UW Parkside (W1-0). As they start NSIC play, they have perhaps one of the more lopsided schedules you could create in terms of opponent strength. They will face 6 NSIC Tournament teams from 2023 in their first 7 games, completely frontloading the slate with UMD, Bemidji State, Augustana, Wayne State, Concordia St Paul, Minnesota State Mankato and U Mary. If the Huskies want to challenge for another trophy this year, they will need to come through the first half of the schedule relatively unscathed. Howver, they will have plenty of space to find momentum going into the NSIC Tournament, with the close all being (2023) bottom half of the table squads. ​

​In a Conference like the NSIC, there are definite tiers of talent, and also resources, so any teams growth has to be methodical and built year over year. For a relatively new Coaching staff at Crookston, they are in the midst of building that growth at one of the most far flung and (let’s be honest) under-resourced spots. They had a particularly tough 2023, going 0-18-0, but there were still close losses and respectable score lines at times. For 2024 Coaches Neil Mancktelow and Morgan Philliber recruited a slate of 11 newcomers (many of which are already seeing minutes), and clearly worked to find another level of resilience and potential. They started the year with an ambitious exhibition against D1 North Dakota, losing only 3-0, which you’d think would inspire some confidence. In the Non Conference, the Golden Eagles lost two close games to Lincoln University (an HBCU in Missouri) and University of Nebraska Kearney 0-1 at a round robin in Sioux Falls. In their third game in Spearfish, South Dakota, they snagged a 0-0 draw, ending their losing streak from last year, and also getting their first shutout since 2021. The result earned Keeper Jordan Metz an NSIC Keeper of the Week award (with an assist to finish the game from Emma Stempien) They face two tough games this weekend, at Bemidji State and home vs UMD, but next weekend could present an easier opportunity for points, with a trip to Sioux Falls and then a final non conference game against Jamestown. Jamestown is a soon to be NSIC member that Crookston beat 2-0 in an exhibition last year.

We've all probably been seeing too much about political polls, but there is one lesson we can take into NSIC play. Like their political counterparts, it's good to know the details and relevance of sports poll, to understand if it actually means anything. In Division 2 soccer, the coaches poll matters A LOT. When the NCAA Tournament field is selected, like most other sports, conference champs get an automatic birth. However, most teams that make the tourney are selected by at large invites, selected by the coaches of the Region. Last year St Cloud and MN State Mankato made the NCAA Tournament via at large selection, and the Conference would probably hope for at least a couple at large spots again this year. As we kick off NSIC play, we have four local squads getting ranked with few surprises, MN State Mankato, Concordia St Paul, Bemidji State and St Cloud State. With big NSIC matchups starting right away in the first weekend, we’ll see who takes the early momentum towards the postseason in a competitive '24 season.

Jenny Vetter left the NSIC as the all time leading scorer, and took no time finding her way in the pro game. Vetter signed with a young club, Racing Power FC in Portugal, scoring 14(!) goals in her debut season in their top flight. Seeking an opportunity closer to home this year, she signed with the USL Super League's Spokane Zephyr as the first Minnesotan to join the league. After a slight injury delay, she has now made her debut with two substitute appearances for Zephyr. It seemed like as soon as Vetter debuted, her MN State Mankato teammate Mackenzie Rath (of MN Aurora 2) signed as a replacement with San Diego Wave in the NWSL, marking a huge fall for the Mavericks program and the NSIC. You can watch all of the USL Super League action on Peacock.