Minnesota United FC was the host for a steel-raising ceremony on Tuesday at the Allianz Field stadium site in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul.
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and several other politicians along with Bill McGuire, the Loons managing partner, spoke and provided a stadium update and commemorated the construction milestone by signing a steel column.
Fifty tons of structural steel columns and beams arrived at the future home of Minnesota United. Allianz Field is set to open next spring.
MIAC football awards
Concordia (Moorhead) fullback Chad Johnson was selected the MIAC player of the year, while St. Thomas defensive lineman Austin Jochum was picked the top interior lineman in the conference.
Their peers also selected Glenn Caruso of St. Thomas and Gary Fasching of St. John's as co-recipients of the John Gagliardi coach of the year award.
Reiss honored
Southwest Minnesota State junior outside hitter Taylor Reiss was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Division II national player of the week for the second time this season.
She had 97 kills over three matches while hitting .417 to lead the Mustangs to the NSIC tournament title. In the semifinals, Reiss set a school record with 41 kills as the Mustangs beat Augustana 3-2.
• Southwest Minnesota State will be the top seed and host for the Central Regional held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. Concordia (St. Paul) will be the second seed, and two other NSIC teams, Northern State and Minnesota State Mankato will play each other in the quarterfinals as the No. 4 and 5 seeds, respectively.
