2022 Northern Conference Runner-Up
2021 Northern Conference Champions
Minnesota Thunder 2023 WPSL team photo credit: Michael Lake / Northern Lights Football
Minnesota Thunder WPSL Team
Minnesota Thunder Academy joined the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) for the 2020 season. That season was canceled due to Covid-19, so the Summer of 2021 was the first season we competed in the WPSL – – and ended the season as the Northern Conference Champions!
The Women’s Premier Soccer League is a national, semi-professional league in the United States and Canada. It is on the second level of women’s soccer in the U.S. soccer pyramid, below the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and roughly equal with the USL W League and United Women’s Soccer (UWS). In its 24th season since the league was started in 1998, the WPSL is the longest active women’s soccer league with more than 140 clubs from coast to coast in 35 states – making it the largest women’s soccer league in the world.
70% of players in the WPSL are Collegiate players. For many players, WPSL play serves to develop their game in the offseason before returning to their collegiate teams. For those in the post-grad stage of their careers, the league provides the same opportunity to up their skills while they seek out professional contracts. Some of the greatest soccer players in the world have played in the WPSL, including Alex Morgan, Brandi Chastain, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, and Julie Foudy, and it has become a launching pad for many of the globe’s female soccer stars. Over 53% percent of players selected in the last four National Women’s Soccer League Drafts paved their way via the WPSL.
| Date | Day | Opponent | Field | Time | Home/Away | Livestream |
| 5/31/23 | Wed | Manitou FC | White Bear Lake HS North Stadium | 7:00pm | Away | Livestream link |
| 6/4/23 | Sun | Salvo SC | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 7:00pm | Home | Livestream link |
| 6/7/23 | Wed | Mankato United SC | Providence Academy | 7:00pm | Home | Livestream link |
| 6/9/23 | Fri | St Croix SC | Providence Academy | 7:00pm | Home | Livestream link |
| 6/11/23 | Sun | KC Current II | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 1:00pm | Home (exhibition) |
Livestream link |
| 6/14/23 | Wed | Joy AC | Oriole Stadium | 4:00pm | Away | Livestream link |
| 6/16/23 | Fri | Sioux Falls City FC | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 6:00pm | Home | Livestream link |
| 6/21/23 | Wed | Rochester United FC | RCTC Regional Stadium | 7:00pm | Away | Livestream link |
| 6/25/23 | Sun | Dakota Fusion FC | Jim Gotta Stadium | 3:00pm | Away | Livestream link |
| 6/28/23 | Wed | Maplebrook Fury | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 7:00pm | Home | Livestream link |
2023 Season
A roster full of MTA Alums, MTA youth players, and a couple new UMN transfers!
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Head Coach Danny Storlien |
Assistant Coach Dominic Duenas |
Assistant Coach Caroline Smith |
Assistant Coach Lauren Witte |
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athletic trainers provided by
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2023 Field Locations TBD
| MN Thunder | Providence Academy | 15100 Schmidt Lake Rd, Plymouth MN 55446 |
| MN Thunder | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 6600 Nicollet Ave, Richfield MN 55423 |
| Dakota Fusion FC | Jim Gotta Stadium | Moorhead High School, 2300 4th Ave S, Moorhead MN 56560 |
| Joy AC | Oriole Stadium | 6525 W Lake St, St Louis Park, MN 55426 |
| Salvo SC | Reynolds Field, Univ of Northwestern | 3003 Snelling Ave N, St Paul MN 55113 |
| Manitou FC | White Bear Lake High School North Stadium | 5040 Bald Eagle Ave, White Bear Lake MN 55110 |
| Maplebrook Fury | Osseo Senior High School | 317 2nd Ave NW, Osseo, MN 55369 |
| Mankato United | Bethany Lutheran College Stadium | 700 Luther Dr, Mankato MN 56001 |
| Rochester United | RCTC Regional Stadium | 851 30th Ave SE, Rochester, MN 55904 |
| Sioux Falls City FC | Bob Young Stadium, U of Sioux Falls | 6801 S Charger Cir, Sioux Falls SD 57108 |
| St Croix Soccer Club | Stillwater Area High School | 5701 Stillwater Blvd, Oak Park Heights MN 55082 |
coming soon…
2022 Season – Northern Conference Runner-Up
Formed entirely of Minnesota Thunder Academy alums and current players, the Minnesota Thunder WPSL team will be a force in the league!
All Conference Best XI
Paige Kalal
Paige Peltier
Kaitlyn MacBean
Defensive Player of the Year
Kaitlyn MacBean
Honorable Mention
Jordan Hecht
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| • MTA 4th-12th grade + 2021 WPSL • Ms Soccer Minnesota 2019 • WPSL Northern Conference Player of the Year 2021 |
• MTA 9th-12th grade + 2021 WPSL • WPSL 2021 All Conference • HS All State • HS All Conference 4 yrs |
• MTA 5th-12th grade • Ms Soccer Minnesota 2019 • ECNL All Conference 2x • State Champ 4×100 track & field |
• MTA K-12th grade • HS All State • HS All Conference • Team MVP & Academic award |
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| • MTA 8th-12th grade + 2021 WPSL • WPSL 2021 All Conference team • Ms Soccer Minnesota finalist 2018 • HS All State, All Conference |
• MTA 9th-12th grade + 2021 WPSL • ECNL Midwest All-Conference team • WPSL 2021 All-Conference team • WPSL 2021 Defender of the year |
• MTA 8th-12th grade • HS All State first team 3x • 4x Mississippi 8 All Conference • 2x Mississippi 8 Conference MVP |
• MTA 8th-12th grade + 2021 WPSL • HS All Conference First Team • MNHSSCA Academic Excellence Award |
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| • MTA 8th-12th grade | • MTA 7th-12th grade | • MTA 9th-12th grade | • MTA 8th-12th grade |
| • HS All Conference | • HS All State first team 2x | • HS All State | • HS All Conference 2x, All State |
| • HS Rookie of the Year | • HS All Conference team 3x | • HS All Conference team 2x | • E Metro Player of the Year finalist |
| • HS 4-year Varsity player | • appeared in all 16 NDSU matches | • appeared in all 16 NDSU matches | • Ms Soccer Minnesota finalist |
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| • MTA 9th-12th grade | • MTA 10th-12th grade | • MTA 7th-12th grade | • MTA 6th-12th grade |
| • HS All State, All Conference team | • HS All State 2x | • ECNL 2020 Nat’l Selection Game | • TopDrawerSoccer IMG Top 150 |
| • MO Valley All Conference Freshman | • HS MVP & Captain | • HS All Conference 2x | • Ms Soccer Minnesota finalist 2019 |
| • U NoIA 2nd team All Conference 2x | • HS All Conference first team 2x | • HS All State & All Metro | • ECNL Midwest All Conference |
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| • MTA 8th -12th grade | • MTA 7th gr – present (HS Jr) | • MTA 8th gr – present (HS Jr) | • MTA 7th gr-present (HS Soph) |
| • Ms Soccer Minnesota 2021 (AAA) | • WPSL 2021 GK of Year North Conf | • WPSL 2021 MTA team | • ECNL First Team All Conference |
| • ECNL First Team All Conf & All Amer | • ECNL First Team All Conference | • ECNL National Camp | • ECNL Conference Co-Player of the Yr |
| • ECNL Conference Player of Year 2021 | • HS All State, All Region, All Metro | • ECNL First Team All Conference | • HS All Conference, All State |
| • HS All Conference 2x, All American | • WPSL 2021 All Conference | • HS All State 3x | • HS All Metro, All Region |
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| • MTA 7th gr – present • 2019 ECNL All Conf Selection • 2021 HS All Conference • 2021 HS All State • 2020 HS All Conf Hon. Mention |
• Coach by Danny Storlien 10th-12th gr
• Played at University of Kansas
• Ms Soccer Minnesota 2001
• 3 time 1st team all big 12
• All time leading scorer at KU
• 2 time all American at KU
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• MTA 7th gr – present • 2020 HS All Conference Honorable Mention |
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| Date | Day | Opponent | Field | Time | Home/Away | Livestream |
| June 2, 2022 | Thursday | Rochester United FC |
Providence Academy |
7:45pm | Home | LIVESTREAM LINK Match Highlights Video Interview w/Danny Storlien + 2021 Awards |
| June 5, 2022 | Sunday | Dakota Fusion FC |
Providence Academy |
6:00pm | Home | LIVESTREAM LINK Match Highlights Video |
| June 10, 2022 | Friday | Salvo SC | Northwestern University | 7:00pm | Away | Livestream Link |
| June 12, 2022 | Sunday | Manitou FC | Providence Academy |
7:00pm | Home | LIVESTREAM LINK Match Highlights Video |
| June 15, 2022 | Wednesday | Maplebrook Fury | Osseo High School | 6:30pm | Away | Livestream Link |
| June 17, 2022 | Friday | Mankato United | Bethany Lutheran College | 7:00pm | Away | Livestream Link |
| June 19, 2022 | Sunday | Joy AC | Providence Academy |
7:00pm | Home | LIVESTREAM LINK |
| June 24, 2022 | Friday | Sioux Falls City FC |
Bob Young Field, U of Sioux Falls | 6:00pm | Away | Livestream Link |
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Head Coach Danny Storlien |
Assistant Coach Dominic Duenas |
Assistant Coach Caroline Smith |
Assistant Coach Lauren Witte |
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athletic trainers provided by
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travel funds provided by
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2022 Field Locations TBD
| MN Thunder | Providence Academy | 15100 Schmidt Lake Rd, Plymouth MN 55446 |
| Salvo SC | Reynolds Field, Univ of Northwestern | 3003 Snelling Ave N, St Paul MN 55113 |
| Maplebrook Fury | Osseo Senior High School | 317 2nd Ave NW, Osseo, MN 55369 |
| Mankato United | Bethany Lutheran College | 700 Luther Dr, Mankato MN 56001 |
| Sioux Falls City FC | Bob Young Stadium, U of Sioux Falls | 6801 S Charger Cir, Sioux Falls SD 57108 |
2021 fields:
| Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 6600 Nicollet Ave, Richfield MN 55423 |
| Jim Gotta Stadium | Moorhead High School, 2300 4th Ave S, Moorhead MN 56560 |
| Reynolds Field, Univ of Northwestern | 3003 Snelling Ave N, St Paul MN 55113 |
| Seafoam Stadium, Concordia University | 281 Hamline Ave N, St Paul MN 55104 |
| Maple Grove High School Stadium | 9775 Fernbrook Ln N Maple Grove MN 55369 |
| Osseo Senior High School | 317 2nd Ave NW, Osseo, MN 55369 |
2021 Inaugural Season – Northern Conference Champions
We were thrilled that the 2021 Minnesota Thunder WPSL team was formed from a majority of former-MTA youth players, with a couple wonderful additions.
It was great to have these skilled young women back at MTA!
WPSL 2021 Northern League Champions! 
Minnesota Thunder
Offensive Player of the Year – Northern Conference
Paige Peltier
Defensive Player of the Year – Northern Conference
Hayley Lindaman
2021 All-Conference Team – Northern Conference:
Forwards: Hannah Heineman, Paige Peltier
Midfielders: Dara Andringa, Lily Gilbertson
Defenders: Hayley Lindaman
Goalkeepers: Jordan Hecht
Head Coaches: Danny Storlien, Dominic Duenas
Assistant Coaches: Caroline Smith, Kelsey Hans
| Player | Jersey# | College | Former Club |
| Dara Andringa | 17 | University of Wisconsin Madison | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Olivia Bohl* | 88 | n/a | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Emily Brandenburg | 18 | University of Tulsa | Houston Dash, TX |
| Amanda Cassidy | 7 | Loyola University Chicago | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Maddie Dahlien* | 24 | University of North Carolina* | Minnesota Thunder Academy 02 ECNL |
| Arianna Del Moral | 9 | University of Minnesota | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Alana Dressely | 22 | University of Minnesota | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Lily Gilbertson | 19 | Northwestern University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Ava Grate* | 37 | n/a | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Jordan Hecht* | 1 | n/a | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Hannah Heinemann | 10 | University of Nebraska, Omaha | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Lauren Heinsch | 15 | University of Northern Iowa | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Paige Kalal* | 27 | n/a | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Lauren (LJ) Kolodge | 3 | Emory University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Makenzie Langdok | 21 | University of Minnesota | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Hayley Lindaman | 14 | South Dakota State University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Madison Lo | 6 | Northwestern University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Madison Majewski | 2 | James Madison University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Lizzie Mewes | 11 | University of Northern Iowa | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Chloe Olson* | 40 | Marquette University* | Minnesota Thunder Academy 02 ECNL |
| Paige Peltier | 42 | University of Notre Dame | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Madelyn Poor* | 12 | n/a | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Marli Rajacich | 8 | Boston University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Morgan Turner | 99 | DePaul University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
| Christa VanLoon | 20 | Oral Roberts University / Transferring to Univ of Minnesota |
D’Feeter Kicks Soccer Club ECNL, TX |
| Lauren Witte | 5 | St. Catherine University | Minnesota Thunder Academy |
* current MTA player
| Date | Day | Opponent | Field | Time | Home/Away |
| June 4 | Friday | Salvo SC | Reynolds Field Univ of Northwestern |
7:00pm | Away |
| June 6 | Sunday | Mankato United | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 7:45pm | Home |
| June 10 | Thursday | Fire SC | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome |
7:45pm | Home |
| June 12 | Saturday | Dakota Fusion FC | Jim Gotta Stadium at Moorhead HS, Fargo |
6:00pm | Away |
| June 17 | Thursday | Salvo SC | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome |
7:45pm | Home |
| June 20 | Sunday | Fire SC | Seafoam Stadium, Centennial High School |
7:00pm | Away |
| June 27 | Sunday | Maplebrook Fury | Maple Grove High School Stadium | 7:00pm | Away |
| June 30 | Wednesday | Rochester United FC | Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 7:45pm | Home |
| Academy of Holy Angels Stardome | 6600 Nicollet Ave, Richfield MN 55423 |
| Jim Gotta Stadium | Moorhead High School, 2300 4th Ave S, Moorhead MN 56560 |
| Reynolds Field, Univ of Northwestern | 3003 Snelling Ave N, St Paul MN 55113 |
| Seafoam Stadium, Concordia University | 281 Hamline Ave N, St Paul MN 55104 |
| Maple Grove High School Stadium | 9775 Fernbrook Ln N Maple Grove MN 55369 |
Womens Premier Soccer League (WPSL)
The WPSL’s national footprint stretches from coast-to-coast with 140+ active teams in 16 conferences and 14 divisions. WPSL is in 35 of the 50 states and has teams occupying 19 of the 20 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The WPSL also has Canadian clubs based in Vancouver.
In its 24th season (2022), the WPSL is the longest active women’s soccer league with more than 140 clubs from coast to coast in 35 states – making it the largest women’s soccer league in the world.
The WPSL strives to provide the highest level of developmental opportunities for amateur players and team rosters consist of highly skilled female players from collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and stand-out prep athletes. Nearly 70% of WPSL players are current student-athletes at all prestigious division levels.
Minnesota Thunder Youth Academy – Girls Camps & Tryouts
Why Choose MTA
Year-round training with the top talent in Minnesota.
Highly-qualified coaches with US Soccer & NSCAA accreditation.
Perfect for serious players who seek a high level of competition.
Gain visibility to collegiate scouts and national team coaches.
What Parents Say
MTA provides elite coaching and technical training other clubs cannot match. They also understand how to prepare the kids for the next level.
The kids that gravitate to MTA push each other to be better soccer players while being good people.
The coaching is consistent. It doesn’t matter who the coach is or what level—Each and every coach is teaching the players how to possess the ball and increasing their soccer IQ. We are always please with the methods.
The training, teaching of ball control and footwork, and knowledge of game strategy is hands above community clubs.
Training is great! If you want to play college soccer MTA is heads above everyone else.
As the years go by, our son is growing so much as a player and we are excited for his future with the club
Great coaching staff!
Challenging every player, at every level, thereby giving an equal opportunity to develop to anyone who wants it.
The coaching and training is excellent as well as the facilities for winter training.
MTA provides a safe and effective training environment. They provide top level coaching for the elite teams and challenge the players to develop their skills.
MTA provides opportunities for soccer players who are very dedicated to the sport through great coaching and playing opportunities.
My son’s coach truly cares about him and every player on his team.
Camps & Clinics
Minnesota Thunder Academy offers Thunder Edge Skills Training as well as various camps & clinics throughout the calendar year, open to MTA and non-MTA players. Participation in MTA camps and clinics provides an alternative to private lessons and private training.
MTA’s Juniors Camp is designed to introduce players to the core training & tactical activities that coaches implement within MTA Juniors Academy. The experience emphasizes the values and philosophy of the MTA program, and is open to all players, regardless of club affiliation (non-MTA & MTA).
MTA ECNL-NPL Camp is designed to introduce players to the core training and tactical activities that coaches implement with the MTA ECNL and Minnesota-NPL teams. The experience emphasizes the values and philosophy of the MTA program so the players have an understanding of what evaluation criteria are used during the tryout process.
MTA’s Girls College Soccer ID Camp, open to all, is hosted by MTA and is designed to introduce players to some of the top coaches in the midwest while competing with other top girls from Minnesota.
MTA’s Father & Son Soccer Camp is an exceptionally unique soccer camp that will build magical memories and top flight soccer skills. Each participant receives individual and group instruction in a fun environment designed to help kids maximize their playing potential and help dads shake some rust off to learn (or relearn) some skills.
No school? Have some fun and improve your soccer skills on Martin Luther King Jr Day!
Open to all players, regardless of club affiliation (non-MTA & MTA).
Take your game to the next level! Minnesota Thunder Academy’s Thunder Edge Training Sessions offer professional training for all players at all skill levels in a fun but challenging age-appropriate environment. Open to all players, regardless of club affiliation (non-MTA & MTA).
