Lauren Eckerle

Lauren Eckerle poses with a soccer ball in her hands

Photo by: The Summit League

Photo by: Andrew Pedersen

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

Photo by: Travis Gallipo

Position:
Defender
Height:
5-6
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Hugo, Minn.
High School:
White Bear Lake Area H.S.
Major:
Business Economics

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS AND AWARDS

2024 & 2025 Team Captain
2025 All-Summit League First Team
2025 Summit League Tournament MVP & All-Tournament Team
2025 United Soccer Coaches All-West Region (Second Team)
2025 CSC Academic All-American (Second Team)
Summit League Academic All-League Team (2024-25)
2024 All-Summit League Honorable Mention
Two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2024 & 2025)
Three-time Summit League Academic Honor Roll
Two-Time Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence
2022 Summit League All-Newcomer Team
Summit League Peak Defensive Performer of the Week (Oct. 7, 2024)

2025: All-Summit League First Team, Summit League Tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team selection … 2025 Team Captain … started 21 games for the Jackrabbits during her senior season … totaled eight points on one goal and six assists … competed a team-high 1,770 minutes … played the full 90 minutes 15 times, the most of anyone in the squad … tied for sixth in The Summit League with six assists … second on the team in assists (6) and tied for tenth in program single-season history … tied for fifth in the squad in shots on goal (11) … her minutes played were the 22nd most in a season by a Jackrabbit … one multi-point game on the backline, picking up two assists against St. Thomas (Sept. 25) … scored lone goal of the season against North Dakota (Oct. 2) … eight game streak where she played every minute of every match (Oct. 19 – Nov. 9) … played every minute of the Summit League Tournament where the Jacks’ did not let in a single goal … anchored a defense that posted 11 shutouts throughout the year and led The Summit League in goals against average (0.68) … honored with several accolades at the close of the season … was selected as a Second Team All-West Region performer by United Soccer Coaches … a standout in the classroom having already obtained two bachelor’s degrees (business economics and accounting) and in the midst of graduate school (economics) … SDSU’s lone member on the conference’s Academic All-League Team … was named a 2025 Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators organization … a Second Team honoree, just fourth Academic All-American in program history, and first since 2022 … finished her college career with 10 assists (19th most in SDSU history) and competed for 4,943 minutes (top 30 individually).

2024: Served as team captain as a junior … played in all 22 matches and started in 21 coming off season-ending injury in 2023 … primarily played from the back line but also appeared in defensive midfield … competed for fourth most minutes on team (1,584) which was a career high total … also recorded career highs in shots (22) and shots on goal (6) … scored a goal on a free kick in a Sept. 1 victory at Green Bay … had assists in matches versus St. Thomas (Oct. 6) and South Dakota (Oct. 11) … selected as Summit League Peak Defensive Performer of the Week on Oct. 7 following a pair of SDSU shutout victories … an honorable mention to the All-Summit League Team … recognized for efforts in classroom in multiple places … named to The Summit League’s Academic All-League Team … a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District choice.

2023: Served as a starter in the first 10 matches of season … played a mix of defense and midfield for the Jackrabbits … registered 12 shots with five on goals for a .417 shots on goal percentage … recorded an assist in SDSU’s Aug. 19 win over Augustana … competed for full 90 minutes at Utah State (Sept. 1) and versus Grand Canyon (Sept. 7) … had just one game in which she played less than 70 minutes … season ended due to leg injury during Sept. 24 match at South Dakota.

2022: Played in all 19 matches and started in four as a freshman … competed over 40 minutes in 10 games including a season high 71 versus Creighton on Sept. 11 … had first assist of career in match that ended in 1-1 tie … scored first career goal and had season-high three shots in Oct. 7 match at St. Thomas … had a goal by header in Oct. 9 game at Western Illinois … finished season with five points … had a .263 shots on goal percentage behind 19 shots … named to The Summit League All-Newcomer Team.

Background: Graduated from White Bear Lake Area High School in 2022 … accumulated 31 goals and 28 assists during her prep career … was tabbed first team all-state in 2021 tallying 12 goals and 11 assists her senior season … an all-conference selection all four seasons of her high school career and was a second team all-state choice as a junior … helped lead the White Bears to a 2019 conference championship and a section runner-up finish in 2021 … a three-sport standout at White Bear Lake … played basketball and ran track for the White Bears … was a 4.0 GPA student, 2021 AP Scholar and National Honor Society member.