Minnesota Scene: New Zealand defender expected to join United soon

Michael Boxall, a defender for the New Zealand national team, is expected to finalize his contract with Minnesota United soon and become the second addition to the team during this secondary transfer window, a source close to the club confirmed Tuesday.

Boxall, 28, started all three of New Zealand's matches in last month's Confederations Cup in Russia. He most recently played more than 50 matches with SuperSport United FC in South Africa and one back-to-back Nedbank Cups, South Africa's version of the U.S. Open Cup.

Previously, Boxall spent time in Major League Soccer with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC from 2011-12.

The 6-2, 200-pounder plays center back, a position where United has had personnel issues. In the Loons' most recent match July 4, backup center back Joe Greenspan played in the absence of team captain Francisco Calvo and backup Jermaine Taylor, both away on national team duty. Starter Brent Kallman and backup Vadim Demidov were injured.

While United coach Adrian Heath has said he wouldn't trade Calvo, his left-sided center back, for anyone in the league, the captain has played left back before, which is another position needing improvement. Starter Marc Burch is out for several more weeks after bilateral sports hernia surgery.

"The two center-back partnership is very, very important to any team, and I think that Brent and Calvo have shown a really good understanding, and that's getting stronger, their understanding now," Heath said in June. "I'm a little bit loathe to change that and to break it up and suddenly make it two or three changes rather than one."

Megan Ryan

The Tommies, who were 12-1 last season, have won 23 consecutive regular-season games.

The Johnnies, 10-2 a year ago, have reached the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs the past three years.

Sophia Yoemans of Mississippi National Golf Links had rounds of 71 and 72 for a 143 total to win the Minnesota State Junior Girls' Championship at Legacy Golf in Faribault. Two strokes back was Leah Herzog, also of Mississippi National.

Both are teammates at Red Wing High School.

Yoemans tied for first in the Class 3A state meet this spring and then won the Minnesota Girls' PGA Championship.

• Gophers Brandon Lingen and Nate Wozniak were named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top college tight end.

• The St. Paul Saints signed former Minnesota State Mankato pitcher Jason Hoppe on Monday. That night Hoppe, 25, who spent three seasons in the Texas and Los Angeles Angels organizations, threw 1⅓ scoreless innings for the Saints.