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A high school graduate at Minnehaha Academy

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Girls' Soccer

In the foreground, a female soccer player in a black uniform dribbles the ball, while in the background, other players and parked cars are visible on a sunny day.

Overview

Our program is built around developing the whole person, not just the soccer player. We believe in strong fundamentals, intelligent play, and competing at a high standard, but also in creating an environment where players feel supported, challenged, and valued. We emphasize a growth mindset, meaning players are encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes, and continuously improve both on and off the field.

We hold high expectations for effort, accountability, and teamwork, while maintaining a culture rooted in joy, trust, and respect. Our team is a community where players push each other to be better, celebrate growth, and take pride in representing Minnehaha Academy. Families can expect a program that develops confident, resilient athletes who are prepared to lead, compete, and succeed long after their playing days are over.

Minnehaha Girls' Soccer Team Culture

Our program’s identity is rooted in high standards, strong relationships, and continuous growth. We combine a competitive, detail‑driven approach to the game with a culture of trust, joy, and resilience, where players are encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes, and support one another. The result is a team that plays with confidence, intelligence, and pride, and views success as both performance on the field and growth as people.

Growing as a Girls' Soccer Player

Our Middle School and JV teams help players build community and a love for the game that hopefully leads to a desire to grow as a player. Each year, we do have a Middle Schooler (or multiple) make the Varsity team so there is a fast track option for talented players.

Coaching Emphasis

As a coach, I emphasize development over outcomes, blending strong technical foundations with curiosity, creativity, and joy in the game. I challenge players the way Pep does on the field, while supporting them the way Ted Lasso does off it, teaching them that mistakes are part of growth and effort is something they always control. My goal is to help players build skill, confidence, and a growth mindset that extends well beyond soccer.

Competition Level

We compete in the IMAC conference which has produced four of the last five Class A state champions, including Minnehaha winning state in 2022. That being said, our team has players that range in experience and skillset from future Div I players to first-time players with athleticism.

Girls' Soccer & Faith Integration

Every player is on a journey and their teammates walk beside them on that journey. Our captains lead the team in prayer before every game and we were the cross on our jerseys as we seek to model what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Girls' Soccer Traditions

Each year our team does an overnight away game. We pick a different location each year and try to locate it near a college or university to explore the day after the game. It's a bonding experience for the team to travel together, eat pizza in the hotel lobby, and play a team we wouldn't normal play. In the last few years we've gone to Marshall (SW MN State), Northfield (St. Olaf), Madison (UW-Madison), and next year we're headed to Duluth where we will hopefully see the UMN-Duluth soccer team play.

State-of-the-Art Soccer Field Built for Excellence

 

Minnehaha Academy’s hybrid soccer field brings professional-level performance to our student-athletes. Designed with 97% natural grass reinforced by 3% stitched synthetic fibers, the surface combines the authentic feel of real turf with enhanced strength beneath the roots.

What this means for our athletes:

  • The look, feel, and playability of natural grass

  • Stronger, more stable footing for safer competition

  • Greater durability to support daily practices and games

  • More consistent playing conditions throughout the season

  • Increased field availability with less downtime for repairs

With stadium lighting, expanded bleachers, and an upgraded scoreboard, the entire space is designed to elevate the student-athlete experience—from weekday training sessions to full community game nights.

Guido Kauls on the field watching a soccer game

Guido Kauls: Leaving A Legacy That Shaped Minnehaha Soccer

In 1961, Minnehaha Academy's German teacher Guido Kauls founded one of Minnesota’s first high school soccer teams—establishing a program built on discipline, skill development, and strong faith. Over nearly four decades, Coach Kauls led the Redhawks to more than 500 career victories and three state championships, helping shape high school soccer across the state.

For Kauls, the character development of his players was paramount. He believed in developing student-athletes with deep integrity and care for others—values that continue to guide our program today. The field that bears his name stands as a reminder that excellence and servant leadership have always gone hand in hand at Minnehaha.

For today’s students, that legacy isn’t history—it’s the foundation they step onto every time they take the field.

More Details

  • Season: Fall (mid-August and runs through mid-November)
  • Grade Levels: 6-12 (grades 6-8 participate on the Middle School teams; grades 9-12 participate on Junior Varsity and Varsity teams)
  • Competition Levels: Middle School, JV, and Varsity, no prior competitive experience is necessary
  • Practice Location: Guido Kauls Field at Minnehaha Academy Upper School
  • Team Communication: Once you register for this sport, the coach will communicate with student-athletes and parents via email and GroupMe.
  • Equipment Requirements & Transportation: Detailed information can be found in the Athletic Team Info document.

How to Join

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