MANKATO, MINN – The No. 15 ranked Minnesota State women's soccer team will be on the road to kick off the 2026 season against Central Oklahoma on Friday at 7 p.m., at Tom Thompson Field in Edmond, Okla. 

The Mavericks, coming off an 18-1-4 (13-1-1 NSIC) season, are led by senior forward Maddix Archer (Brookings, S.D.) and senior defender Mila Rustin (Farmington Hills, Mich.). Rustin and junior Marin Johnson (Delano, Minn.) both scored five goals apiece last season, leading all returning players. Archer finished third on the team in scoring with 12 points a season ago. Rustin was named NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year earlier this month. 

Returning between the posts is senior Lauren McAlpine (Shoreview, Minn.) who was named a United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-American during the 2025 season, earning Third Team honors. McAlpine started all 23 games, recording 16 shutouts, the most in NCAA Division II, and the second-best save percentage in the nation at .906. 

Facing Central Oklahoma: Minnesota State faces off against Central Oklahoma to begin the season for the second year in a row. This will be the first time since 2018 that the Mavericks will travel down to Edmond. The Mavericks are 3-2-1 all-time against the Bronchos. The meeting last year at The Pitch ended in a 1-1 draw. 

Scouting the Bronchos: Last year the Bronchos finished 10-6-5 and 6-3-3 in conference play, making a run to the conference championship game where they fell to Missouri Western. Central Oklahoma was led by sophomore forward Jane Lockhart who tied for the team lead with four goals and goaltender Avery Bass who finished with a .802 save percentage and a .870 goals-against average. 

Minnesota State History: The 2026 season marks the 31st year of soccer at Minnesota State. The Mavericks own a 431-136-61 (.734) record all-time. The Mavericks have advanced to the NCAA tournament 19 times and own a 16-15-8 record (.512) in NCAA tournament matches. Minnesota State has won 8 NSIC regular season championships since joining the conference in 2008, and 11 NSIC tournament championships.  

Head Coach Brian Bahl is entering his 14th season as head coach of the Mavericks; he owns a 208-30-36 (.825) record with the Mavericks, including a 148-11-19 (.885) record in NSIC action. He is the all-time winningest coach in program history and has guided the Mavericks to seven NSIC regular season championships, nine NSIC tournament championships, and 12 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Bahl's overall collegiate women's soccer coaching record is 272-72-53 (.752). 

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