SDSU Sports Information
BROOKINGS, S.D. – On Thursday, South Dakota State’s head soccer coach Brock Thompson announced the addition of three incoming student-athletes with previous college experience to the roster for the 2025 season.
Mallorie Benhart, Hannah Langstaff, and Lauren Walter have all finalized their paperwork and will officially join the team at the start of the spring semester. Each player brings considerable versatility to various positions on the field.
Mallorie Benhart | Goalkeeper | Junior | Lakeville, Minn. | Lakeville North HS | Green Bay Mallorie Benhart will join the Jackrabbits after two seasons at Green Bay, where she played 25 games and served as the primary starter, accumulating over 2,000 minutes as a goalkeeper. In her freshman year, she achieved a career-best with 11 saves in one match and recorded two additional matches with 10 saves each, finishing that year with a shutout and a .739 save percentage. For the 2024 season, she concluded with a 1.68 goals-against average, a .747 save percentage, and four shutouts, which included a match against South Dakota State where she made seven saves.
Before her collegiate career, Benhart was a prominent player at Lakeville North High School, earning multiple team accolades and an all-conference selection in her senior year. She contributed to her team’s conference title and state tournament appearance during her high school years.
“Mallorie is a quality goalkeeper with significant experience,” Thompson noted. “Her exceptional shot-stopping skills and kicking ability, combined with her motivation, make us excited to work with her.”
Hannah Langstaff | Defender | Junior | Washington, Ill. | James Madison HS | Akron Hannah Langstaff comes to SDSU after two successful seasons at Akron, where she made significant contributions on defense. Langstaff played in 33 matches and started 31 of them, being a constant presence in the starting lineup throughout the 2024 season. She played the full duration in half of the team’s matches and logged over 2,400 minutes on the field, earning just one yellow card during her college career. She also has a solid background in club soccer, winning a national championship in the summer of 2023 with Sockers FC.
“Hannah is a fantastic addition due to her ability to play various defensive roles,” Thompson said. “Her versatility will allow her to contribute as a center back, wide player, or defensive midfielder. We look forward to her development with the Jackrabbits.”
Lauren Walter | Forward | Graduate Student | Centennial, Colo. | Arapahoe HS | John Brown Lauren Walter joins South Dakota State after an impressive career at John Brown University, where she played in 100 matches and was a first-team all-conference selection every year from 2020 to 2024. She holds multiple program records, including career goals (67) and assists (50). Walter’s senior year featured a crucial game-winning goal that propelled her team to the NAIA National Championship quarterfinals, the highest achievement in the program’s history.
A two-time NAIA All-America honoree, Walter led her conference in goals, earning the Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year award in 2023 with a personal-best 49 points. She capped her final college season with 18 assists, ranking fifth in the nation at the NAIA level.
Before her collegiate tenure, Walter was a standout at Arapahoe High School, where she led her team to two state runner-up finishes.
“It’s fantastic to welcome a player of Lauren’s caliber to our team,” Thompson stated. “With the recent NCAA ruling allowing her to play another year, she brings a strong and determined presence as a forward committed to bettering herself and her teammates.”
The South Dakota State soccer program wrapped up the 2024 season with a 15-5-2 record, capturing their ninth conference tournament championship and making their eighth NCAA Division I Tournament appearance.
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