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Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Cunningham, Kalal, and Thurk Named to 2025 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Players to Watch List
8/11/2025 2:00:00 PM | Soccer
The Gophers open up the season against BYU on Thursday
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 24 ranked University of Minnesota soccer team had three student-athletes named to the 2025 Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch List, announced by the conference on Monday. Tatiana Cunningham, Paige Kalal, and Ashley Thurk were recognized.
Recently named a captain, the 2025 season marks Cunningham's first as a Golden Gopher. Before transferring to Dinkytown in the spring, the midfielder competed at San Jose State for three seasons. The San Jose, Calif., native started 58 matches, appearing in all 60 in her career. A holding midfielder, she played a key role in both the defense and attack, scoring a goal and dishing out two assists.
Last season, Kalal earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors after ending the regular season ranked second in the conference and eighth in the country in assists (9). Hailing from Brooklyn Park, Minn., she scored two goals during her sophomore campaign against Northwestern (Oct. 4) and No. 11 Iowa (Oct. 27). Kalal has started 39 matches in her career with 26 starts (22 last season).
Thurk enters her sophomore season after being a mainstay in the backline as a freshman. The Edina, Minn., native ended 2024 being named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, Top Drawer Soccer's Best XI Second Team, and was named a Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 Freshman, coming in at No. 21. Thurk started all 22 matches for the Maroon and Gold and competed for a full 90 in every game except one, missing 11 minutes on the field.
In addition, the conference announced the 2025 preseason poll, where Minnesota found itself sitting 10th among the 18 teams.
The Gophers open the 2025 season at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium this Thursday at 7 p.m. CT against the (receiving votes) BYU Cougars.
2025 Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Rutgers
9. Washington
10. Minnesota
11. Purdue
12. Nebraska
13. Michigan
14. Northwestern
15. Illinois
16. Oregon
17. Indiana
18. Maryland
Recently named a captain, the 2025 season marks Cunningham's first as a Golden Gopher. Before transferring to Dinkytown in the spring, the midfielder competed at San Jose State for three seasons. The San Jose, Calif., native started 58 matches, appearing in all 60 in her career. A holding midfielder, she played a key role in both the defense and attack, scoring a goal and dishing out two assists.
Last season, Kalal earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors after ending the regular season ranked second in the conference and eighth in the country in assists (9). Hailing from Brooklyn Park, Minn., she scored two goals during her sophomore campaign against Northwestern (Oct. 4) and No. 11 Iowa (Oct. 27). Kalal has started 39 matches in her career with 26 starts (22 last season).
Thurk enters her sophomore season after being a mainstay in the backline as a freshman. The Edina, Minn., native ended 2024 being named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, Top Drawer Soccer's Best XI Second Team, and was named a Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 Freshman, coming in at No. 21. Thurk started all 22 matches for the Maroon and Gold and competed for a full 90 in every game except one, missing 11 minutes on the field.
In addition, the conference announced the 2025 preseason poll, where Minnesota found itself sitting 10th among the 18 teams.
The Gophers open the 2025 season at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium this Thursday at 7 p.m. CT against the (receiving votes) BYU Cougars.
2025 Big Ten Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
1. USC
2. UCLA
3. Penn State
4. Michigan State
5. Ohio State
6. Iowa
7. Wisconsin
8. Rutgers
9. Washington
10. Minnesota
11. Purdue
12. Nebraska
13. Michigan
14. Northwestern
15. Illinois
16. Oregon
17. Indiana
18. Maryland
Highlights: Gophers 2, Brown 0
Monday, September 01
Highlights: Gophers 4, Marquette 3
Thursday, August 28
Highlights: Gophers 4, Northern Illinois 0
Sunday, August 24
Highlights: Gophers 3, St. Thomas 0
Sunday, August 17