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Submitted photo of this year’s Minot State women’s soccer team. Submitted by MSU Athletics

While Beaver fans fill the stands for kick-off at Herb Park Stadium this week, another of the Minot State team’s kicks off in a different way in Southern California this weekend.

The Minot State women’s soccer team hits the field this Thursday under the guidance of a new coach, opening its season at Cal Poly Pomona and looking to build off a strong finish in 2025.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said longtime Beaver assistant coach Adam Daley, who takes over leadership of the women’s program this season. “The exhibitions are always nice to kind of see where you’re at, but then the real test comes in those non-conference games, and we get the chance to go to California and face two really, really good teams.”

After an intersquad scrimmage and an exhibition against the Magic City Legends club team to get some pre-season practice, the Beavers play the Broncos on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (PT) to open the season, then at Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday.

Minot State makes its home debut hosting Jamestown in a non-conference contest on Friday, September 4, at 5 p.m.

The Broncos were picked to win the California Collegiate Athletic Conference title after advancing to the national semifinals last fall, while the Golden Eagles were picked to finish 6th in the CCAA after going 7-5-6 in 2025.

A challenging weekend for the Beavers who, along with looking for wins, look to establish their identity as a team on the road.

“We just want to show our identity and our character,” Daley said, adding, “we’re really big on supporting each other; whether you get a starting role or you come off the bench, supporting the people that are on the field no matter what.

“That’s really what we want to achieve and show. If we can go out and play well, that’s awesome, but we want to show that we have each other’s back and we our good teammates.”

So what will this year’s Minot State women’s soccer team look like on the field?

A trio of key returners lead a deep roster with both experience and plenty new, incoming talent.

Back in goal is 6-foot senior keeper Rebecca Sargent, who played in 18 games last season, posting 4 shutouts with 9 wins and a 0.94 goals-against average.

She is joined by 5-3 senior defender Brittney Egbert in anchoring the defense, but Egbert also adds some offensive punch with 4 goals and a pair of assists last fall.

“(Egbert)’s dangerous on set pieces and always willing to, on the defensive end, put her body on the line,” Daley said.

Also adding experience and leadership for the Beavers is 5-3 senior returning midfielder Leilany Ponce, who had 1 goal for Minot State in 19 games last season.

“Leilany Ponce really established herself last year, and in the spring,” Minot State’s coach said. “We’re looking forward to her anchoring the midfield this year.”

The Beavers add eight newcomers this fall, many of whom Daley expects to have an impact, but two stand out so far: 5-4 freshman forward Jayva McKibben, a 1st team All-State player from Minot High, and 5-6 junior midfielder Selam Binegar, a transfer from Casper College who scored 1 goal and had 4 assists in 19 games over two seasons with the Thunderbirds.

“(Jayva)’s been working her tail off, and anybody that knows her knows that that’s what she’s all about, so we’re excited to see her out there,” Daley said.

“And (Salem)’s been outstanding these first few weeks; she’s really dictating the pace of play in the midfield.”

They’ll be a few of the standouts for a team looking to make a run in the NSIC, but that will be known for effort above all else.

“We want our identity to be intensity,” Daley said. “Whether that’s offensively or defensively, we’re going to be the team that works the hardest. That’s what we want to show each and every game.

“So it’s going to look a little bit different each game; we’re not always going to be in the same formation or the same strategies, but I think what’s going to stand out each day and each game, and what’s been standing out each practice, is how hard we work.”