BURNSVILLE, Minn. – With a new head coach, a refreshed mentality, and returning experience on both ends of the pitch, Cougar Soccer enters the 2025 fall season eager to make history. First-year head coach Joe DeMay takes the reins of a program on the rise, with eyes set firmly on qualifying for the NSIC Tournament for the first time ever.

"This is a season of change for the Cougar soccer program," said DeMay. "There was a lot for the team to adapt to this spring, with a new outlook, mentality, and approach to playing the game. However, they leaned into everything we are trying to do, so excitement is high for this season."

The Cougars were picked to finish 13th in the 2025 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, providing extra motivation as they look to climb the conference standings. DeMay inherits a battle-tested core of returners, including the program's two selections for the 2025 NSIC Players to Watch list: junior forward Mariah Siem and senior center back Alivia Tindall.

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Players to Watch

Mariah Siem – Forward – Sioux Falls, S.D. (Lincoln HS)
After logging over 1,000 minutes last fall, Siem enters her junior campaign as a focal point of the Cougars' new attacking identity. In 2024, she started 16 of 18 matches and tallied 14 shots while also earning Academic All-District and NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors.

"Mariah combines technical ability and power in the front third to create goal-scoring opportunities for herself and others," said DeMay. "She will benefit from a more proactive style of play this year to provide more opportunities for her to utilize her strengths in front of the goal. Her drive and competitiveness will play a big part in helping the team achieve its goals this season."

Alivia Tindall – Center Back – Nampa, Idaho (Skyview HS)
Tindall returns for her senior season as the anchor of the Cougar back line. A three-year starter with 53 appearances under her belt, she played 1,542 minutes last fall and earned both Academic All-District and NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors.

"Alivia has been an ever-present leader in the Cougar backline," DeMay said. "She is a leader on and off the field and has been a protagonist in leading and buying into the changes we have instituted within the program this spring and fall. We will rely on her experience and expertise to help lead us to our goals this season."

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A Fresh Vision

With the foundation of returning veterans and a new playing philosophy, the Cougars aim to build toward consistency and competitiveness in a deep NSIC field. The preseason poll may place them 13th, but internally, the bar is higher: elevate the standard and push toward the postseason.

"I'm eager to see how the work we have put in during the spring and preseason translates into first our match performances and then our results," said DeMay. "Our goal is to make the NSIC tournament for the first time in program history."

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