KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Minnesota State enters the 2026 season ranked No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches' Association NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25, which was released Tuesday afternoon.
Defending national champion Florida Tech claimed the top spot in the preseason rankings, followed by Cal Poly Pomona, Franklin Pierce, Washburn, and Dallas Baptist. Minnesota State is one of two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) programs in the poll, with St. Cloud State coming in at No. 16.
Click here for the complete United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25.
The Mavericks are coming off another outstanding campaign in 2025, finishing 18-1-4 overall and 13-1-1 in NSIC play. Minnesota State captured its 11th NSIC championship, hosted the NCAA regional tournament for the second consecutive season, and concluded the year ranked No. 16 nationally. The program has now reached the NCAA Tournament in 14 consecutive seasons.
Leading the returners is junior goalkeeper Lauren McAlpine, who earned D2CCA First Team All-America honors and United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America recognition in 2025. She was also named the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection.
McAlpine ranked among the nation's elite last season, posting a .906 save percentage (second nationally), a 0.384 goals-against average (third nationally), and 16 shutouts, the most in NCAA Division II. She also recorded a school-record 15 conference shutouts, played 2,125 minutes in goal, and tied for third in program history with 18 victories in a season.
Offensively, Minnesota State returns two of its top three scorers from last year, including junior Marin Johnson, who finished with five goals, three assists, and 13 points. Johnson also led the Mavericks with three game-winning goals, ranking third in the NSIC. Senior Maddix Archer finished tied for third on the team in scoring with 12 points as she scored four goals and four assists. Archer led the team with 57 shots and had 21 on target (.368) and registered one game winner. She was one of ten players last year who started all 23 matches.
Head coach Brian Bahl enters his 14th season at Minnesota State with an impressive 208-30-36 (.825) record at the helm. He has guided the Mavericks to the NCAA Tournament in 12 of his 13 completed seasons and owns a remarkable 148-11-19 conference record. Overall, Bahl has compiled a 272-72-53 (.752) record in 20 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
Minnesota State opens exhibition play on Sunday, Aug. 16, against Iowa Lakes Community College before facing Northwest Missouri State (Aug. 19) and Simpson College (Aug. 23). The Mavericks begin the regular season on Aug. 28 at Central Oklahoma and host Central Missouri and No. 19 Grand Valley State during their home-opening weekend on Sept. 4-6.
New for the 2026 season, all Minnesota State home soccer matches and NSIC championship events will stream on Midco Sports Plus, the new home of the NSIC Network. Fans can subscribe monthly or annually through the Midco Sports Plus website or app.
Stay up to date on all Maverick Athletics news by downloading the Maverick mobile app for exclusive content, gameday notifications, schedules, rosters and more. Fans can also follow @MinnStAthletics on Instagram and X and like the Minnesota State Mavericks Facebook page.
