Minnesota State University-Mankato Women's Soccer

Brian Bahl was named head coach of the Minnesota State women’s soccer program in the spring of 2013, becoming the fourth head coach in the program’s history. Coach Bahl finished his 12th season leading the Mavericks in fall of 2024.  In his 12 years with the Purple and Gold, the two-time NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year and two-time NSIC Coach of the Year (2015 & 2022) has amassed an overall record of 190-29-32, including appearances in the NCAA Tournament during each year of his tenure…2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons. The 2020 NCAA Tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19. His record against Northern Sun Conference competition is 137-13-19. In 2024, Minnesota State advanced all the way to the NCAA Championship game for the first time in program history. The 2024 Maverick soccer team was also the first NSIC team to reach the NCAA Final Four.   During the 2013 season, the Mavericks boasted a 17-3-2 overall record, including a 13-1-1 mark in NSIC action. The 2013 season also saw MSU claim both the NSIC regular season and tournament championships for the first time in program history. Minnesota State was awarded the region’s top seed in the NCAA Tournament where it was eliminated in the second round.   The 2014 season proved to be one for the record books as the Mavericks ended their season with a 22-1 record, including an unblemished 15-0 record in NSIC action. For the second straight season, the Mavericks claimed the NSIC regular season and tournament championships as they once again advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they would fall to Central Missouri in overtime in the “Sweet 16”. The 2015 season saw the Mavericks once again go undefeated in conference play with a 14-0-1 record and claim yet another regular season conference championship.  The Mavericks advanced to the “Sweet 16” in the NCAA Tournament and finished with a record of 18-2-2.   In 2016, the Mavericks fielded one of the youngest teams in the nation and capped the season off by winning another NSIC Tournament Championship and earned a trip to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. The Mavericks finished with a record of 16-3-3. In 2017, the Mavericks once again claimed both the NSIC regular season and tournament championships.  The Mavericks were selected as a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament and concluded the season with a 17-2-3 record. The 2018 season saw the Mavericks collect the second most wins in program history after boasting a record of 19-3-1 record, including a 13-1-1 finish in the NSIC. After the second place finish in the regular season, the Mavericks went on to win their third straight NSIC Tournament Championship. Minnesota State advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament after being selected as a #4 seed. Bahl also won his 100th game at Minnesota State during the 2018 season with a 3-1 at Concordia-St. Paul on Oct. 9. In 2019, The Mavericks had 19 wins for the second straight season, which is tied for second most in program history. The final record for the year was 19-4-1 with a 12-3 conference record, good for second in the regular season. MSU started the season out with five consecutive shutouts, including wins over then-No. 4 Central Missouri and then-No. 1 Grand Valley State in the same weekend at The Pitch. The Mavericks moved on to win their fourth consecutive NSIC Tournament Championship, earning the top seed for the central region. Minnesota State advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history with the first coming in the 2012 season.  The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In one official game during the spring of 2021, hosting Minot State at Scheels Field in the Maverick All-Sports Dome, the Mavericks knocked off the Beavers 3-0.   In 2021, after a rocky 3-2-1 start, the Mavericks rallied the remainder of the season while putting together a 17-game unbeaten streak, which saw MSU finish the campaign 18-3-2 with a 12-1-2 record in NSIC action for third in the conference standings. The season also featured a fifth consecutive NSIC Tournament Championship for the Mavericks, resulting in an automatic qualifier for the NCAAs, marking MSU's 10th consecutive and 15th overall trip to the NCAA Tournament. At the tournament, MSU won its first-round matchup against Oklahoma Baptist, 3-0, before a losing in the second round to then-#11 Central Missouri, 4-3, to conclude the season. During the 2021 season, Bahl also became the winningest coach in Maverick soccer history on Oct. 31, 2021, when he earned his 143rd victory, 2-0, in a match against Southwest Minnesota State at The Pitch to pass Chris Miskec on the school's all-time wins list. The 2022 season saw the Mavericks claim their fifth NSIC regular-season championship under Bahl as they posted an 11-0-4 NSIC record. MSU would go on to record 12 shutouts during the 2022 season, including five to end the regular season schedule. The Mavericks advanced to the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament, but a 0-0 (4-3 shootout loss) to Minot State ended MSU's bid for a sixth consecutive NSIC Tournament championship. The Mavericks would go on to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as they traveled to Bemidji, Minn. A second-half goal by the Mavericks would send its first-round match into overtime before Minnesota Stae prevailed 3-1 in a shootout. In the second round against Bemidji State, the Mavericks would go into overtime yet again, but it was BSU that was able to come away with the 4-2 win as Minnesota State finished its season with a 14-2-6 record. In 2023, the Mavericks finished second in the NSIC standings as the Mavericks posted an 11-4-5 overall record, including a 9-1-4 NSIC record. MSU would make its 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament under coach Bahl as they fell to Central Missouri 2-0 in the first round in Topeka, Kan. In total, seven Mavericks claimed All-NSIC honors for their efforts during the 2023 season, including Mackenzie Rath who was named the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time. Rath would go on to claim D2CCA All-American Second Team honors as well. In 2024 the Mavericks were firing on all cylinders as they finished the regular season with a 12-1-5 record, including an 11-0-3 NSIC record as the Mavericks claimed their sixth NSIC regular season championship under coach Bahl. The Mavericks would go on to win their eighth NSIC Tournament championship under Bahl as the Mavericks secured the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Central Region Tournament. In total, eight Mavericks received All-NSIC honors, including Lucy Weninger, who was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year. In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Mavericks defeated St. Cloud State (2-1) and Missouri Western (1-0) in the first two rounds, before securing their third NCAA Central Region Championship as MSU bested Central Missouri 1-0 in double overtime. The Mavericks then made team and conference history, defeating Grand Valley State 5-4 in a shootout to advance to the NCAA Final Four. MSU went on to defeat Columbus State 2-1 in the semifinals before falling to Cal Poly Pomona 2-1 in the NCAA Championship. The Mavericks returned to the NCAA Tournament as the top seed in the region in 2025 and defeated Missouri Western before tying Washburn University 1-1 and falling in a PK shootout. The memorable playoff run began with back-to-back NSIC regular season and tournament titles, achieved for the second time during Bahl's tenure as head coach. Goalkeeper Lauren McAlpine earned NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year and Anna Van Wyngarden was named NSIC Defender of the Year. In 13 seasons, Bahl has seen 76 Mavericks claim All-NSIC honors, including 38 All-NSIC First Team selections. Bahl has has also seen the duo of Korey Kronforst  (2013 & 2015) and Jenny Vetter (2019, 2021 & 2022) earn NSIC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Breanna Steel (2014),  Emily Erickson (2015), Lucy Weninger (2024), and Anna Van Wyngarden (2025) claimed NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, while Molly McGough (2014), Mackenzie Rath (2022 & 2023), and Lauren McAlpine (2025) were named the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year. The Mavericks have also claimed 48 NSCAA/USC All-Central Region honors and 34 Daktronics/D2CCA All-Central Region honors during Bahl’s tenure at Minnesota State, to go along with multiple All-American accolades.   The 2013 season saw Kronforst become the first Maverick to receive Daktronics First Team All-American honors, while Tori Meinhardt received CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team honors. Emily Moris was named to a pair of All-American teams in 2013 including the NSCAA All-American Third Team and the NSCAA Scholar All-American Third Team.   The All-American accolades continued to roll in during the 2014 season as four Mavericks combined for nine All-American awards. Steele would go on to receive three All-American awards including NSCAA First Team All-American, NSCAA Scholar All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team honors. Moris received her second NSCAA Scholar All-American award to go along with NSCAA All-American First Team honors, while Kronforst claimed CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team and NSCAA Scholar All-American accolades. McGough also received NSCAA Scholar All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team honors as well. All-American accolades rolled in again in 2015. Kronforst was named NSCAA 1st Team All-American, CCA/Daktronics 2nd Team All-American, NSCAA Scholar All-American, and CoSIDA Academic All-American. Kiana Nickel was named NSCAA 2nd Team All-American, CCA/Daktronics 3rd Team All-American and NSCAA Scholar All-American. All-American accolades returned for the 2018 season as Dakota Wendell, earned multiple including 1st Team CoSIDA Academic All-America, 1st Team D2CCA All-American and 3rd Team USC Scholar All-American.  For the fourth time in seven years, Bahl saw two more of his student-athletes pick up All-American accolades after the 2019 season. Jenny Vetter was named to three All-American Teams including the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, the USC All-American First Team and the D2CCA All-American Second Team, while also being named the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year. Alesha Duccini was also named to two All-American Teams including the USC All-American Second Team and the USC Scholar All-American First Team. In 2021, Bahl's tenure saw Vetter add three more All-American honors to her resume, including her third CoSIDA Academic All-American honor. With it being her third time collecting the award, Vetter became the first Maverick woman student-athlete to accomplish the feat and the second in school history, joining Jason Krug (Men's Hockey in 1996, 1997 & 1998). In 2022, Vetter claimed USC All-American Third Team honors. She would also receive her fourth CoSIDA Academic All-American honor, becoming the first Maverick student-athlete in school history to do so. She was also named the CoSIDA Academic All-American DII Women's Soccer Player of the Year. In 2024, Lucy Weninger received D2CCA All-American First Team honors. Weninger also received USC All-American First Team honors, while Maddix Archer received USC All-American Second Team honors, and Clare Longueville earned USC All-American Third Team accolades. As a team, the Mavericks have also excelled in the classroom as 196 student-athletes have been named to the NSIC All-Academic Team during the Bahl's tenure. Eleven Mavericks have also received the NSIC Myles Brand Award, which is bestowed to senior NSIC student-athletes boasting a 3.75 GPA. The Mavericks have also garnered seven NSCAA/USC National Team Academic Awards under Bahl. Prior to coming to MSU, Coach Bahl spent six seasons at the helm of both the men’s and women’s soccer programs at Upper Iowa University. On the women’s side, the Peacocks qualified for five NSIC tournaments in that time and amassed 64 wins and 17 draws – the best stretch in the history of the program. His win-loss record in his six seasons as head coach of the women's soccer program at UIU was 64-42-17. Bahl ranks as the winningest coach in the history of both programs at UIU and the first coach in program history to win more than 100 games combined between the two programs. Bahl’s 2012 Peacock women’s soccer team posted a record breaking 15-3-2 overall record and an 11-2-2 mark in NSIC action. The team’s total wins and conference wins established new season highs for the Peacocks as they finished third in the NSIC regular season standings. During the 2011 NSIC Tournament, UIU upset the No. 1 seed, but just missed making the finals as it fell in a shootout 6-5 after a 1-1 tie. A total of 30 women were placed on the All-NSIC teams during Bahl's six seasons at UIU. Four of his players were named to the Daktronics All-Central Region team, and four more to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region teams. Before joining Upper Iowa, Bahl served as the assistant coach of the Northern Iowa women’s soccer team for two seasons and also served as the head coach of the women’s soccer team at Mount Mercy College for three seasons. Bahl also served as an assistant coach at Wartburg College and spent six seasons as the head coach of the boy’s soccer team at Waterloo West High School. Bahl, who served as Executive Director/Director of Coaching for the FC Midwest Soccer Academy (U5-U18) from 2005-10, is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the United States Soccer Federation. Bahl holds a Premier Diploma from the NSCAA, along with a national coaching license from the USSF and an NSCAA goalkeeping diploma. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern Iowa. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Brian and his wife, Jamie, have three children – Aubrey, Colten and Caden. They also have two dogs, Cooper and Coda. Brian Bahl at Minnesota State Year-By-Year Year Matches W-L-T (Pct) NSIC Notables 2013 22 17-3-2 (.818) 13-1-1 (.900) NSIC regular-season champs, NSIC tournament champs, NCAA qualifier 2014 23 22-1-0 (.957) 15-0-0 (1.000) NSIC regular-season champs, NSIC tournament champs, NCAA qualifier 2015 22 18-2-2 (.792) 14-0-1 (.967) NSIC regular-season champs, NCAA qualifier 2016 22 16-3-3 (.795) 12-2-1 (.833) NSIC tournament champs, NCAA qualifier 2017 22 17-2-3 (.841) 13-1-1 (.900) NSIC regular-season champs, NSIC tournament champs, NCAA qualifier 2018 23 19-3-1 (.848) 13-1-1 (.900) NSIC tournament champs, NCAA qualifier 2019 24 19-4-1 (.812) 12-3-0 (.800) NSIC tournament champs, NCAA central region champs, NCAA qualifier 2021 (Spring) 1 1-0-0 (1.000) 0-0-0 (.000) 2021 23 18-3-2 (.826) 12-1-2 (.867) NSIC tournament champs, NCAA qualifier 2022 22 14-2-6 (.773) 11-0-4 (.867) NSIC regular-season champs, NCAA qualifier 2023 20 11-4-5 (.675) 9-1-4 (.786) NCAA Qualifier 2024 27 18-2-7 (.796) 11-0-3 (.893) NSIC regular season champs, NSIC Tournament champs, NCAA qualifier, NCAA Central Region Champions, Final Four 2025 23 18-1-4 (.870) 13-1-1 (.900) NSIC regular season champs, NSIC Tournament champs, NCAA qualifier Totals 274 208-30-36 (.825) 148-11-19 (.885)   Brian Bahl's women's soccer coaching record at Upper Iowa:  64-42-17 (six seasons) Brian Bahl's women's soccer coaching record at Minnesota State:  208-30-36 (13 seasons) Brian Bahl's overall women's soccer coaching record:  272-72-53 (19 seasons) Win No. 100 at MSU- October 9, 2018 at Concordia-St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn. | W, 3-1 Win No. 143 at MSU (Became All-Time Winningest Soccer Coach) - October 31, 2021 vs. Southwest Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn. | W, 2-0 Win No. 200 at MSU – October 17, 2025 at Concordia-St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn. | W, 1-0 7 NSIC Regular Season Championships 9 NSIC Tournament Championships 12 NCAA Tournament Appearances

Coach Tilsen enters his second year with the Mavericks in his new role as Associate Head Coach and Director of Recruiting/Scouting. In his tenure coaching MSU women’s soccer, he has been part of two regular season conference championships (2018, '22), three conference tournament championships (2016, ‘17, ’18), and four NCAA tournament runs (2016, ’17, ’18, ’22).  The Mavericks have posted a record of 66-10-13 under his tutalage and Tilsen has coached All-Americans Abby Nordeen, Dakota Wendell, Alesha Duccini, and Jenny Vetter.    Previously, Coach Tilsen spent time as the Minnesota State's goalkeepers coach during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He helped Alexa Rabune put her name in the record books at MSU as she moved up to second in all-time wins (19), third in shutouts (12), seventh in saves (81), and ninth in goals against average (0.68). In her career, Rabune finished ranked fifth in wins (26), third in shutouts (18), seventh in saves (133), sixth in goals-against average (0.84), and seventh in save percentage (.811). The Mavericks finished the 2017 season third nationally in shutouts, fourth in goals against average, and eighth in save percentage.   That season, the Mavericks also had three all-region players and six all-conference players as well as six of the 11 players named to the all-tournament team. MSU also performed in the classroom, with 19 players named to the NSIC All-Academic Team.      Coach Tilsen brought NCAA head coaching experience to the staff, having served as head coach for Missouri Southern State University women's soccer. Under Tilsen's guidance, the Lions owned a 10-36-3 (5-21-1 MIAA) record over the course of three seasons from 2019-21.      During the 2020 season the Lions made their first appearance in the MIAA conference tournament since 2017 while earning a win over, No. 8 Central Missouri (3-2 OT). It was the Lions first victory over the Jennies since 2013 and the first home win in the matchup since 2005. Bailey Belcher was named a first-team All-MIAA forward and Rylie Johnson was a second-team All-MIAA defender. 16 Lions were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Rolls and Belcher was an MIAA Scholar-Athlete. Belcher, Johnson, and Laver were named to the USCA College Player Award of Distinction once again.     In the 2019 season, Southern had four All-MIAA Honorable Mention selections and placed four on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Lariah Boone, Maya Greenquist, Jori Hays and Banner Williams were MIAA Academic Excellence award winners for transfers/newcomers. Belcher, Johnson, and Riley Laver were recognized with the USCA College Player Award of Distinction.    Coach Tilsen also brings experience coaching semi-professional players. Former General Manager and Head Coach for Fire SC 98 in the WPSL (2018-2020). Tilsen compiled a roster with collegiate players from across the country. Fire SC 98 won franchise of the year for the North Conference and helped eight players transition from collegiate soccer to the professional ranks. Fire SC 98 finished second to the Chicago Red Stars reserves in the conference standings.     He spent over 25 years coaching youth and high school soccer in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He served as Director of Coaching for the Twin Cities Fire Soccer Club and brings years of experience coaching and developing players. Additionally, Tilsen has over 15 years of high school experience including, Head Coach at Robbinsdale Cooper, Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony (girls) and Forest Lake (boys), as well as being an assistant coach at St. Paul Central, Park Center, and Bloomington Jefferson. Tilsen obtained his USSF B license, NSCAA Premier and NSCAA GK level one and level two diplomas. He graduated Cum Laude from MSU in Spring 2017 with a BS in Sport Management and a Coaching Minor. He earned his MA from MSU in December 2018.  Tilsen and his wife Lisa have a son, Aidan, as well as dogs, Lucy, Ivy, and Wrigley, and cats, Molly and Tommy. 

Jones was named assistant coach with the Minnesota State women's soccer program in the spring of 2013. "Ben is a phenomenal addition to our staff," Bahl said. "He brings loyalty, integrity and great passion for the game to our program. He has a tremendous familiarity with how we will operate within the program having spent a considerable amount of years on my previous coaching staffs. "He is an excellent recruiter and knows what the Division II level and the NSIC are all about. His background at the college level will be an invaluable resource for us." In his first season on the MSU bench, the Mavericks finished 17-3-2 overall and 13-1-1 in the league to claim the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular-season and tournament titles along with a berth in the NCAA Tournament as the region's top seed. Six Mavericks were selected All-NSIC, seven were named All-Central Region, and three captured All-American accolades. During the 2014 season, Jones oversaw a Mavericks squad that went 22-1, including an unblemished mark of 15-0 in NSIC competition, as the Mavericks claimed NSIC regular season and tournament championships for the second straight season. The Mavericks also made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament as they advanced to the "Sweet 16". Seven Mavericks received All-NSIC honors, four received all-region accolades and four claimed a total of nine All-American awards.    The 2015 season saw the Mavericks once again go undefeated in conference play with a 14-0-1 record and claim yet another regular season conference championship.  The Mavericks advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament and finished with a record of 18-2-2.  All-American accolades also rolled in again in 2015. Korey Kronforstwas named NSCAA 1st Team All-American, CCA/Daktronics 2nd Team All-American, NSCAA Scholar All-American, and CoSIDA Academic All-American. Kiana Nickel was named NSCAA 2nd Team All-American, CCA/Daktronics 3rd Team All-American and NSCAA Scholar All-American.   As a team, the Mavericks have excelled in the classroom as 44 student-athletes have been named to the NSIC All-Academic Team during the last two seasons. Three Mavericks have also received the NSIC Myles Brand Award, which is bestowed to senior NSIC student-athletes boasting a 3.75 GPA.  A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Jones spent six seasons at Upper Iowa prior to joining Minnesota State, serving as the associate head coach of the Peacock women's soccer team. He was also named the head coach of the men's soccer team in the spring of 2013. While serving under head coach Brian Bahl at Upper Iowa, Jones helped lead the Peacock women's soccer team to its most successful season in 2012 as it finished the year with a 15-3-2 record, including a mark of 11-2-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. Prior to joining Upper Iowa, Jones served as an assistant coach for two years (2004 and 2006) and as a co-head coach (2005) for Mount Mercy. During his season as a co-head coach, Jones led the Mustangs to the most wins in a season in the program's history.   Jones also spent three seasons with Bahl as an assistant coach for the Waterloo West High School. Jones received his Bachelors Degree from Northern Iowa Leisure, Youth and Human Services with an emphasis in Non-Profit Youth Administration in 2005.  Ben Jones

Vetter has served as Women's Soccer Assistant Coach & Director of Women's Soccer Operations since January of 2020. She currently assists the coaching staff in fall and spring seasons, including running athlete ID camps, working with student-athletes, organizing equipment, keeping statistics and creating social media content. She also organizes team travel and works with hotels and busing companies on travel accommodations. Vetter is also the Assistant Coaching Director of Mankato United Soccer Club. She earned her bachelor's degree in Sport Management from Minnesota State in 2019. In 2021, she was awarded Section 2A 2020 and 2021 Girls Soccer Coach of the Year by the Minnesota State High School League. In 2024, Vetter helped the Maverick soccer team capture the NCAA Central Region Tournament and make their first program appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship game.