Burnsville, MN – University of Mary seniors Mike Ingemansen and Tyler Steffan are the 2012 Northern Sun Players to Watch for the Marauders in the NSIC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll released today. Returning starters for U-Mary, both Ingemansen and Steffan are two-time NSIC All-Academic selections.

The Marauders are projected to finish ninth overall in the 16-team league and fourth in the eight-team North Division.   

A wide receiver from Dickinson, ND, Steffan became the Marauders first NCAA AFCA All-American in 2011 after leading Division II in touchdown receptions with a school record 17. Steffan also earned All-NSIC and all-region recognition. As a junior, he caught 54 passes for 914 yards, averaging 16.9 yards per reception. The NSIC touchdown leader finished 15th in the nation with an average of 9.27 points per game. Steffan was second in the conference in receptions and receiving yards.

Last season Steffan also set the school single game record for scoring receptions and tied the U-Mary single game school record for touchdowns when he twice caught four scoring strikes in a game. He is currently tied for second in school history in receiving touchdowns (23), is fifth in in receiving yardage (1,850), sixth in catches (114) and seventh in touchdowns (23).

A senior leader on defense, Ingemansen enters his second season as a starter. Ingemansen showed a knack for making big plays last season, finishing fourth on the squad with six tackles for loss. An NSIC All-Academic performer, the Bismarck native totaled 36 tackles, had a sack and broke up three passes.

Defending champion University of Minnesota Duluth was selected as the NSIC's top team in the preseason poll, followed by St. Cloud State University, Minnesota State University, Winona State and Augustana. Bemidji State University was sixth, ahead of Wayne State College, the University of Sioux Falls and the Marauders. The final seven slots, in order, belong to Concordia University, Northern State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, Upper Iowa University, Minot State University, MSU Moorhead and the University of Minnesota Crookston.

UMD is the favorite in the North Division, followed by SCSU, BSU, U-Mary, NSU, Minot State, MSUM and UMC. The projected winner in the South Division is Minnesota State, ahead of WSU, Augie, WSC, USF, CU, UIU and SMSU.

The Northern Sun welcomes two new members as Sioux Falls and Minot State both begin conference play this fall.

The Marauders, who open fall practice on August 11, face Concordia University on the road in their season opener September 1.

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