D1 Minnesotans: Forwards tearing it up, Gophers stay undefeated, a bunch of college debuts, and Lauren Heinsch becoming the All Time Goals and Starts Leader at Northern Iowa!

9/11/2024

Author: Mark Privratsky

We are about to kick off Conference play in D1 soccer and we've got 99 Minnesotans who've already seen the field this fall (out of the 119 rostered DI MNs). We are in the middle of an unprecedented scoring run with Izzy Engle, Khyah Harper, and Kaitlyn MacBean all in the top 5 for Goals nationally. The Gophers remain undefeated after a tie with Brown, while Bayliss Flynn and a slew of Minnesotans made their College debuts. In case you missed it, Maddie Dahlien continues to score for the US U-20s in the World Cup as they start the knockouts. And, as always, we will dig into stat leaders and games to watch in the coming weeks. Our D1 MN's stat tracking sheet now has 119 players total, with some added stat categories this week like minutes per game and goals+assists per 90. Check out every Minnesotan's we have in our stat tracker HERE!

Lauren Heinsch makes history as the Goals and Starts leader for Northern Iowa

Did you ever get perfect attendance in school? Lauren Heinsch has probably one upped you this past week, as she became both the All Time Leader in Starts (74) for Northern Iowa, AND the All Time Leading Goal Scorer with 24 goals in 5 years. The Coaches of the Missouri Valley named her All Conference last year and again in the Preseason this year. The Mahdomedi native has been Miss Dependable for the Panthers since joining in 2020, playing 71 minutes a game, starting every game she ever played. She has been supported by a core group of Minnesotans throughout, which this year includes Morgan Barnette (3g,2a), Jenna Nyblom, Olivia Bohl (586 min, 1g) and Olivia Knoepfle (4g,2a).

Minnesotans pacing the National Goal Scoring charts

Blink and you will probably miss a goal by some fast scoring Minnesotans this fall. We are in an unprecedented run of top scorings from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with 3 Minnesotans in the top 5 nationally, and another (Berit Parten) who would be right behind if not for some ghost goals disappearing in a game not to be named. Izzy Engle is showing out BIG TIME with 10 goals in 7 games, Khyah Harper is leading Minnesota to an undefeated start with 8 goals and 3 assists (6 games), and Kaitlyn Macbean continues her form with Penn St, bagging 8 goals in 7 games so far. Check out our stat tracker to see who leads in Goals+Assists per 90!

Bayliss Flynn stands out for Montana as 10 MN players get their debuts

Photo: Montana Grizzlies Athletics

We all know it's not easy to earn your playing time as a first year or younger college player. As we get a few weeks into the season we are seeing more players get a chance, with 10 Minnesotans making their debut this week. Bayliss Flynn of Montana (and MN Aurora) stands out as a Sophmore Keeper who had to wait it out last year, and has now made 3 consecutive starts for the Grizzlies. Flynn won her debut against IU Indianapolis, and took away draws at Air Force and Wyoming. Flynn and Montana face North Dakota this Thursday, at 4pm on ESPN+. Joining Bayliss in getting their debuts were Lauren Buzzell (Nebraska), Jordan Hecht (Army), Ceilidh Whynott (Butler), Maddie Dowling (Illinois State), Ayden Gagner (Duquesne), Ashlyn Derosier (Milwaukee), Avery Petty (Minnesota), Annie Mulcahy (St Thomas) and Bella Meier (St Thomas).

Gophers stay undefeated with a win over Army and a draw with Brown

Photo: Gopher Athletics

The Gophers are off to their best start in years with an undefeated 5-0-1 record. They dispatched Army 3-0 last Thursday before a tough 1-1 draw with Ivy League power Brown on Sunday to stay undefeated. Previously mentioned Khyah Harper is in the form of her college career with 8 goals and 3 assists in 7 games, while Sophia Boman, Ashley Thurk, Sarah Martin and Paige Kalal also playing heavy minutes for their hometown squad. The Gophers face Illinois this Thursday, Sept 12 at 7pm on BTN+, and return home to face MN heavy NDSU in St Paul on Sunday, Sept 15 at 1pm (BTN+). After that their schedule gets trickier with games vs Michigan (Sept 19) at Wisconsin (Sept 22), followed by their first away trip to LA.

Never Subbed 90 Minute Players

The college game has always had increased subs, and the pro game now features 5 allowable switches, but there are still those players who can stick it out for 90 and the coach doesn't bat an eye. With 99 MN's currently seeing the pitch over 6-8 games this year, only four have played every minute of their teams games (with a few close behind). Clare Gagne has stepped right in as UNC's starting keeper after showing out at Brown for years. Sophia Boman continues her legacy at Minnesota as a fifth year with hopes for a postseason chance. Jelena Zbilic is in her 2nd year with the Gophers is similarly locked in as a starter for 90 with Coach Erin Chastain, as is Sophmore Keeper Sarah Martin, who has fully grabbed the reins from long time starter (and now transferred) Megan Plaschko. Others like Grace Pohlidal (Army), Olivia Rowe (St Thomas), Maddie Ishaug (Wisconsin) and Ashley Thurk (MN) are right on the doorstep, playing almost every minute.

Equal Time Shows!

Catch up with all of our Equal Time Soccer shows on our YouTube channel! Our entire archive is there

Sept 3: U20s, NSIC, UMN, UST, Summit League expansion? Presented by Pentz Homes & Modist Brewing

Sept 9: Anna Tobias of UMD Soccer, plus Gophers, Tommies, U20s. Presented by Pentz Homes

Games to Watch

Thursday, Sept 12
Minnesota at Illinois, 7pm, BTN+
North Dakota vs Montana, 5pm, ESPN+
South Dakota vs Northern Colorado, 8pm, ESPN+
Wisconson at Rutgers, 7pm, BTN+

Sunday, Sept 15
Minnesota vs NDSU, 1pm, BTN+
South Dakota State vs Oregon State, 1pm, ESPN+
#22 Iowa vs Iowa State, 1pm ESPN+
North Dakota vs Cal State Northridge, 9pm, ESPN+