The Beavers were picked to finish ninth in the overall standings with 84 points while Pacheco Martinez, a senior midfielder from Bogota, Colombia was named MSU’s Offensive Player to Watch and Haren, a junior defender from Chandler, Arizona was named the Beavers’ Defensive Player to Watch by the NSIC Coaches.

Pacheco Martinez played in all 18 games for the Beavers last season and had one assist, while Haren started 17 games for the Beavers and also had one assist.

The MSU women’s soccer team opens its 2024 season hosting a trio of exhibition contests later this month as the University of Regina plays at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium on Friday, August 23, at 5 p.m., and Concordia College on Saturday, August 24, at 3 p.m. The home exhibition slate wraps up on Wednesday, August 28, with the Beavers annual game against the Magic City Legends club team at 7:30 p.m.

Those three tune-ups prepare MSU for the regular-season opener at Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) on September 5.

Sierra Haren

The Beavers make their regular-season home debut during Homecoming weekend, hosting Montana State Billings on Friday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium.

Minnesota State, Mankato is favored to win the NSIC title, racking up 186 points and 10 first-place votes, while defending regular-season champion St. Cloud State was the No. 2 pick with 179 points and four first-place votes. Bemidji State, the two-time defending NSIC Tournament Champion, was picked third with 170 points, and Mary was picked fourth with 151 points and the final first-place vote.

MSU opens NSIC play on Friday, Sept. 20, playing at their in-state rival Mary.

Rounding out the preseason poll, Augustana was picked fifth with 147 points, Concordia, St. Paul was picked sixth with 137 points, Northern State was picked seventh with 129 points,

Minnesota Duluth was picked eighth with 97 points, MSU was picked ninth with 84 points, Southwest Minnesota State was picked 10th with 76 points, Wayne State was picked 11th with 70 points, Winona State was picked 12th with 63 points, Sioux Falls was picked 13th with 46 points, Minnesota State Moorhead was picked 14th with 36 points, and Minnesota Crookston was picked 15th with 18 points.

Senior All-Region forward Megan Fastenau from Northern State was named the NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while senior All-Region defender Mo Malone from Mary was named the NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Fastenau scored seven goals and had three assists in 2023 and led the NSIC with five game-winning goals, while Malone led the Marauders with six assists and had two goals, both game-winners.