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Seven MSU football players earn NSIC awards

BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced its postseason football awards today. In naming these awards, Minot State University was represented well. The Beavers had one player named First Team-All NSIC (JoseLuis Moreno), three players (Sebastian Gutierrez, Parker Franzen, Ali Mohamed) named to the second team, and three players (Lavante Bushnell, Ben Bolinske, Isaiah Bigby) named honorable mention. In addition, Ali Mohamed was named NSIC Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

Moreno was named to the All-NSIC First team for the third time in his career as a punter, and the second time as a kicker. He made 12-15 on his field-goal attempts with a long of 46. Of his 49 kickoffs, 25 of them went for touchbacks. He punted the ball 73 times for a total of 3,118 yards, averaging 42.71 yards per punt and had a long of 74. He had 22 punts inside the 20 and 23 50+ yard punts. He finished second in the nation in punting yardage and sixth in the country in average yards per punt.

Mohamed had a fantastic freshman season, breaking the Minot State University DII era single-season rushing record, totaling 817 rushing yards. He added 168 receiving yards on the season. He finished fifth-best in the NSIC in rushing yards, and tenth in all-purpose yards.

He averaged 74.3 rushing yards per game.

Gutierrez and Franzen were key cogs for an offensive line that allowed just 13 sacks on the season. That total was the third-best in the Northern Sun. Their most impressive game as a group may have been against a Concordia-St. Paul defense that finished the season with the most sacks in the conference and second in the nation. The Beavers did not allow a sack in that contest and were a significant factor in the Beavers gaining 505 yards of offense, including 308 yards rushing.

Bushnell received honorable mention for the third consecutive year. He capped off an impressive career by becoming the DII era receiving touchdowns leader, second in Division II era receiving yards, and in the last game of his collegiate career broke the all-time receptions record at Minot State University. On the season, Lavante finished in the top 15 in the conference in receptions and receiving yards with 42 catches, and 562 yards, respectively.

Bolinske continued to improve in his second year playing quarterback at Minot State. He was a dual-threat this year, throwing for 1,376 yards and rushing for 559 yards. The rushing yards were 13th-best in the conference at any position and most at the quarterback position. His 1,935 yards put him in seventh in the Northern Sun in total offense. He had 14 total touchdowns on the season.

Bigby had a stellar freshman year on the defensive side of the ball. He led the team in tackles with 66, which was 7th in the Northern Sun among defensive backs. The 66 tackles were the most by a freshman defensive back at Minot State since the school began to make the transition to division two. He added 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two interceptions as well as three pass breakups.

“I am very proud of these men and the recognition they have received,” said head coach Mike Aldrich. “They are all very deserving of the honors and have been vital to the success and growth of Minot State football. They would also be the first to recognize that they couldn’t have achieved these honors without their teammates.”

— MSU athletics

MSU softball signs four

The Minot State softball team has announced their signings from the early commitment period.

Head coach Nat Wagner currently has four players signed in the class of 2020 including three Canadians and a Minnesota native.

Gabi Dawyduk (Pitcher, Winnipeg, Manitoba/St. Mary’s Academy)

Dawyduk is a big arm from St. Mary’s Academy in Winnipeg. She has commanded the circle in her prep career and was named the 2017 Junior Athlete of the Year.

Angel Dye (Infielder, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS)

Dye is a reliable playmaker on the infield for the Eastview Lightning. In the 2018 season, she hit .232 with 15 singles and one double on the season. Angel was also 11 of 14 in the stolen bases category a year ago and drove in seven runs. On defense, Dye made only one error and recorded a .963 fielding rate.

Tesia Hrom (Pitcher/Utility, Winnipeg, Manitoba/River East Collegiate)

Hrom is another native Canadian to sign with the Beavers. In her prep career, Tesia saw action as a pitcher and a utility defensive player. At the plate, Hrom finished her last season with a batting average .456. The right-hander shows a quality repertoire of pitches in the circle. Hrom is also an academic standout.

Isabella Penner (Catcher/Utility, Blumenort, Manitoba/Steinback Regional)

Isabella Penner is the third player to traverse across the border from Canada to sign with Coach Wagner and the Beavers’ softball team. At Steinbach Regional in Manitoba, Penner is an outstanding athlete and member of her community as she was awarded the Female Athletic Award and Citizenship Award.

— MSU athletics

Nine players join MSU soccer

The Minot State women’s soccer team recently announced their initial group signees in the recruiting class of 2020.

Head coach Chris Clements welcomes nine players from around the country to the Minot State soccer program. The class of 2020 includes two Minot natives, four Colorado natives, and a handful of others.

Baileigh Baker (Goalkeeper, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista HS)

Baker is a leader for the Mountain Vista Golden Eagles’ soccer team as a goalkeeper. She continues to be a rock defensively and incredibly reliable in goal.

Brooklyn Casey (Midfielder, Minot, N.D./Minot HS)

A Minot native, Casey is part of a very talented Minot High soccer team. She has helped lead the club to a runner-up finish at the state level while becoming an All-State performer individually. Casey has also earned accolades off the pitch as an honor roll student and an academic athlete.

Sydney Dollinger (Defender, Bismarck, N.D./Legacy HS)

Dollinger is another native of North Dakota and will travel north from Bismarck for her college career. She is an important member of the Sabers soccer team at Legacy High as she was tied for the team lead in goals a season ago and is a team captain. Dollinger’s signing with the Beavers marks the first time a Legacy Saber has earned a scholarship in women’s soccer.

Jordyn Knipper (Midfielder, Cheyenne, Wyo./East HS)

Knipper is a senior at East High in Cheyenne, Wyoming and has been a vital piece of the Thunderbirds’ women’s soccer program. Knipper is a threat on the pitch as well as an outstanding student athlete off the field. Jordyn is a four-time academic letter-winner and a member of the National Honor Society.

Julia Lashlee (Midfielder, Colorado Springs, Colo./Rampart HS)

Lashlee, a Colorado native, plays her prep soccer at Rampart High in Colorado Springs. The Rams have been a title contender during Lashlee’s time there. Julia helped lead the RHS squad to a 17-1 record and a state quarterfinal appearance a season ago.

Heather Parrish (Forward, Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer HS)

Parrish also hails from the state of Colorado and plays her high school soccer for the Rangers of Lewis Palmer High. Heather has been an important member of the Rangers as a four-year varsity player.

Nicole Sanchez (Midfielder, La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada HS)

Sanchez was a major part of the La Mirada Matadors soccer team both on and off the pitch. She was a leader in games and practices as well as a scholar athlete and honor roll students.

Jordan Tenpas (Defender, Placentia, Calif./El Dorado HS)

Tenpas was a member of the Golden Hawks’ girls’ soccer and track and field teams. She is a solid defender at the prep level and will come to Minot State from Southern California.

Maddie Underwood (Defender, Colorado Springs, Colo./Discovery Canyon HS)

Maddie is an excellent defender and the fourth Colorado native to join the Beavers’ class of 2020. Underwood plays her prep soccer for the Thunder of Discovery Canyon High and has been quite decorated throughout her high school career. She was given the school’s Varsity Athletic Award, the Les Schwab Tire Centers Academic Team Champion award, and has been named a member of the National Honor Society.

— MSU athletics

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