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!

Head Coach Danny Storlien

Assistant Coach Dominic Duenas

Assistant Coach Caroline Smith

Assistant Coach Lauren Witte

athletic trainers provided by

Minnesota Soccer Sponsor Twin Cities Ortho

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

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• MTA 7th gr – present
• 2020 HS All Conference Honorable Mention
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

Head Coach Danny Storlien

Assistant Coach Dominic Duenas

Assistant Coach Caroline Smith

Assistant Coach Lauren Witte

athletic trainers provided by

Minnesota Soccer Sponsor Twin Cities Ortho

travel funds provided by

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

Juniors Camp
ECNL-NPL Camp
MTA 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).

Learn more about Juniors Camp >>

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.

Learn more about the ECNL-NPL Camp >>

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.

Learn more about the Girls College ID Camp >>

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.

Learn more about the Father & Son Camp >>

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).

Learn more about the School's Out Skills Camp >>

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).

Learn more about ThunderFoot Skills Training >>

MTA Players Have Represented