Minnesota State Women’s Soccer Earns Eight All-NSIC Honors as Goalkeeper McAlpine Repeats
Eight members of the No. 3 Minnesota State women’s soccer team have captured All-NSIC honors for their play this season. Senior Lauren McAlpine claimed the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second straight time.
McAlpine has anchored a Maverick squad that posts a 16-1-2 overall record alongside a 12-1-2 mark in conference play. Starting all 19 matches and logging 1,710 minutes between the posts, the Shoreview, Minnesota native leads the conference in goals-against average at 0.47, save percentage at .883, and shutouts with 12 during conference play. Across all matches, she holds a 0.42 GAA and a .916 save percentage, tying for the most shutouts in the country with 15 while allowing just eight goals all year.
First Team Stars Power the Conference-Leading Offense
Joining McAlpine on the All-NSIC First Team are junior Amara Smith and senior Maddix Archer. The pair has spearheaded a Maverick attack that led the conference in goals.
Smith appeared in all 19 matches, netting 14 goals and six assists for 34 points. Her 13 goals and 30 points in conference matches both rank third in the NSIC. Her scoring run extends across eight straight matches, having last failed to register a point on Oct. 4 against Minnesota Duluth. Archer earned her third straight first-team nod after playing in all 19 games with eight goals and six assists, all tallied during conference competition, landing her inside the top five in the NSIC across all three categories.
Second Team Selections Anchor the Back Line and Midfield
Five additional Mavericks secured spots on the All-NSIC Second Team. Junior Reese Hilsenbeck started all 19 matches, contributing three goals and three assists in over 1,200 minutes of action. Junior Savanna Stockness also started every match, recording one goal and three assists across 1,316 minutes.
Senior Mila Rustin started all 19 games, ranking third on the team with four goals and four assists while placing second with 18 shots on goal. Defensively, junior Maclayne Menzel and freshman Evie Birk provided the primary resistance in front of McAlpine. Menzel started 18 matches and Birk started 19, anchoring a back line that limited conference opponents to just seven goals across 15 NSIC games.
The Pitch Awaits the Semifinals
Friday at 1 p.m., the Mavericks will be back in action as they welcome Northern State to The Pitch for the NSIC Tournament semifinals.
