RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota Mines women's soccer team begins its' 2022 season this week hoping to take another step forward. The Hardrockers bring back plenty of experience with 22 returners including and also bring in eight newcomers, including seven freshman and a transfer.
South Dakota Mines was selected 10th in the RMAC preseason poll but looks to outplay that selection.
Returners:
Starting off with the goalkeepers, the Hardrockers bring back three goalkeepers, with
Riley Dunne coming back after not playing in 2021, but being a part of the team in 2019 and the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season. He is joined by
Avery Warren who has not played during his career thus far and
Kole Villescas who played in four games in his freshman season in 2021.
Among guys who played defense in 2021, the Hardrockers return four players, but also bring back
Jesse Corneliusen who did not play last season. The returners,
Drew Urben, Corneliusen,
Trent Ripley,
Cody Collier, and
Aydon Ellis will be leaned on for their experience.
The 2021 midfield remains mostly intact with
Britton Carver,
Brady Cork,
Ransom Hall,
Hayden Jaramillo,
George Martinez,
Anthony Martinez,
Garrett Cole,
Alexander Crowson, and
Rayane Mesmoudi all returning.
While some of these players will be playing different roles this season, they are all key to what the team hopes to do in 2022.
Starting with
George Martinez, he was an All-RMAC second team selection in 2021, and currently sits in a tie for 2nd in points, 3rd in goals, 3rd in assists in the all-time record books at South Dakota Mines.
Hayden Jaramillo will be wearing the captain's armband as a junior. Jaramillo and Cole each were goal scorers last season. Carver, Cork, Hall,
Anthony Martinez, Crowson, and Mesmoudi combined for 1,563 minutes.
In the forward spots, the Hardrockers bring back
Gavin Haggerty and
Jeff Wacker. Those two played limited minutes last season, and Wacker will be changing roles. Cole and Martinez will be playing in this role some.
Newcomers:
At goalie, the Hardrockers welcome Daniel Frietas, originally from Brazil, but competed at Millard North where he was a team captain. He also was a GO Cup participant internationally.
On the defensive side, the team adds freshman
Jacob Miklas,
Gabe Ripperda, and
Tyler Mullert. Miklas hails from Washington, where he was a team captain at Union High School. Ripperda is a South Dakota native, who earned all-conference and all-state honors at O'Gorman in Sioux Falls. Phoenix native, Mullert was also an all-conference performer at the high school level.
At midfield, the Hardrockers bring in transfer
Bernardo Almeida as well as freshman
Bergen Loveless.
Almeida comes in after spending his freshman year at Casper College, where he played in 10 games, starting in three. He is originally from Portugal. Almeida comes in after spending his freshman year at Casper College, where he played in 10 games, starting in three. He is originally from Portugal.
Loveless was an all-conference and all-state selection at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School as well as Class 5A Midfielder of the Year and All-Metro Top XI.
At the forward spot, the Hardrockers brought in three freshmen in
Jayden Roque,
Ryan Blankenship and
Chase Stohlmann. Roque hails from Colorado, where Blankenship and Stohlmann earned all-conference honors in Arizona and Montana.
St. Cloud State
The South Dakota Mines men's soccer team has a pair of road games this week, as they travel to Minnesota to take on St. Cloud State on their home pitch on Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. MT.
Series History
vs. St. Cloud State
- St. Cloud State and South Dakota Mines met last season in a back-to-back at Dakota Fields.
- The Hardrockers split, winning one and drawing one in the only two matchups to date.
Gold Nuggets
- In the preseason, the Hardrockers split their matchups, going 1-1.
- With two more wins, South Dakota Mines Head Coach Ryan Thompson will become the winningest coach in program history
- George Martinez returns, as an All-RMAC Second Team Selection
- Martinez is all over the record books at South Dakota Mines, currently second in all-time assists, goals, and points, with a shot to become the leader by the end of the season.
Scouting Report
St. Cloud State
- St. Cloud State finished last season with an overall record of 4-13-1 including a 3-11 mark in GNAC play.
- St. Cloud State scored 1.33 goals per game and allowed 2.44 to opponents.
- Offensively, they were led by Andres Garcia and Emmanuel Iwe who scored 8 and 6 goals, respectively. Iwe also chipped in four assists.
Interview with
Ryan Thompson is below.
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
