University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brady Paitrick
Gophers Ink Christensen for 2026 Season
12/17/2025 9:51:00 AM | Soccer
Christensen joins the Golden Gophers after two seasons at South Dakota State
MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota women's soccer head coach Erin Chastain has announced the addition of Hailee Christensen (Sioux Falls, S.D.), for the 2026 season. Christensen will join the Golden Gophers after two seasons at South Dakota State.
This past season, Christensen was one of two Jackrabbits selected to the Summit League Women's Soccer Players to Watch List for the 2025 season. The midfielder started all 22 matches, logging 1,669 minutes. She finished the 2025 season ranked third on the team in goals (four), assists (five) and points (13). Christensen scored the game-winning goal against St. Thomas and assisted on South Dakota State's second goal in the Summit League tournament championship to secure the win and send the Jackrabbits to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament, upsetting top-seeded Oral Roberts. She also played a full 90 minutes in two matches, at Missouri in South Dakota State's season opener and at No. 5 Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2024, Christensen appeared in 22 matches and made 18 starts as a true freshman. She finished second on the team with 11 points on four goals and three assists. She recorded two three-point performances, at Omaha to open the season and in the Summit League championship victory over Oral Roberts, scoring a goal and adding an assist in each match. Christensen logged 1,340 minutes, including four matches of 70-plus minutes. She also recorded an assist in South Dakota State's conference tournament semifinal win against Denver and was named to the Summit League All-Tournament Team. Her efforts helped South Dakota State win the Summit League Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament, where the Jackrabbits fell to Minnesota in the first round.
A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Christensen finished her prep career as one of the most decorated high school soccer players in state history. She set Harrisburg High School records for goals and assists at the career, season and single-game levels, totaling 78 goals and 59 assists over three varsity seasons after missing a sophomore year due to injury. Christensen helped Harrisburg win back-to-back Class AA state championships in 2022 and 2023, earning South Dakota all-state honors both years and being named the state championship's most outstanding player in 2022. She was also named South Dakota Girls' Soccer Player of the Year by the South Dakota Coaches Association, earned 2022 South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year honors, and received United Soccer Coaches all-region and All-America recognition in 2023 as the first honoree from the state.
This past season, Christensen was one of two Jackrabbits selected to the Summit League Women's Soccer Players to Watch List for the 2025 season. The midfielder started all 22 matches, logging 1,669 minutes. She finished the 2025 season ranked third on the team in goals (four), assists (five) and points (13). Christensen scored the game-winning goal against St. Thomas and assisted on South Dakota State's second goal in the Summit League tournament championship to secure the win and send the Jackrabbits to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament, upsetting top-seeded Oral Roberts. She also played a full 90 minutes in two matches, at Missouri in South Dakota State's season opener and at No. 5 Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2024, Christensen appeared in 22 matches and made 18 starts as a true freshman. She finished second on the team with 11 points on four goals and three assists. She recorded two three-point performances, at Omaha to open the season and in the Summit League championship victory over Oral Roberts, scoring a goal and adding an assist in each match. Christensen logged 1,340 minutes, including four matches of 70-plus minutes. She also recorded an assist in South Dakota State's conference tournament semifinal win against Denver and was named to the Summit League All-Tournament Team. Her efforts helped South Dakota State win the Summit League Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament, where the Jackrabbits fell to Minnesota in the first round.
A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Christensen finished her prep career as one of the most decorated high school soccer players in state history. She set Harrisburg High School records for goals and assists at the career, season and single-game levels, totaling 78 goals and 59 assists over three varsity seasons after missing a sophomore year due to injury. Christensen helped Harrisburg win back-to-back Class AA state championships in 2022 and 2023, earning South Dakota all-state honors both years and being named the state championship's most outstanding player in 2022. She was also named South Dakota Girls' Soccer Player of the Year by the South Dakota Coaches Association, earned 2022 South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year honors, and received United Soccer Coaches all-region and All-America recognition in 2023 as the first honoree from the state.
2025 Season Highlights
Thursday, October 30
Play in Focus: Sarah Martin
Tuesday, October 21
Highlights: Gophers 0, Oregon 0
Sunday, October 19
Highlights: Gophers 2, Washington 3
Friday, October 17