Our Story
Top Dawg Soccer: Our Story
Top Dawg Soccer started with one goal: help Minnesota players get to high school graduation, college soccer, and
beyond. What began as one trainer working with a handful of local athletes has grown, over time, into a program
that's helped guide more than 100 student-athletes into college soccer — including players like Loïc Mesanvi,
who went on to sign as an MLS homegrown player.
We try to give every player individualized training, real mentorship, and an environment that reflects what it
actually takes to compete at the next level — whether that's a college scholarship, an academy roster, or a professional contract. We've trained out of our Prior Lake facility for the past three years, and we're here to keep
serving Minnesota players and helping however we can.
Brayan Lopez
Founder & Head Trainer
Brayan Lopez founded Top Dawg Soccer to help Minnesota players get to the next level. Raised in Bloomington,
Minnesota, Brayan earned full scholarships to Jefferson College and Marshall University, a Division I powerhouse,
and received professional contract offers at age 15. At 17, he trained with Minnesota United's first team in the
NASL, was ranked the #1 player in the country at his position, and was named an ODP All-Star in 2014.
Brayan has stayed involved in coaching outside of Top Dawg as well. As varsity head coach at Kennedy High
School in Bloomington, he led the program to a 13-2-1 record and a 14-match unbeaten streak — the strongest
regular season Kennedy soccer had produced since at least 2011.
He also served as a head coach in the UPSL this past summer. He's also worked with players who've gone on to
MLS, USL, MLS Next Pro, the U.S. National Team pool, and NCAA Division I programs — and he brings that same
hands-on approach to every session at Top Dawg.
Katie Pingel
Top Dawg Soccer Trainer
Katie Pingel started training with the U.S. Youth National Team at age 12 and represented the program through
the U20 level, serving as team captain in the Olympic Development Program for five of those years, leading the
team in scoring and assists and helping win two national championships. She was a Golden Boot winner, was
rated among the best players in the country at 15, and was named a High School All-American and a Puma Top 50
recruit.
In high school, she broke her school's scoring record in just 12 games and received her first professional contract
offer at 14. She earned a full scholarship to Santa Clara University before transferring to Long Beach State, where
she earned All-Big West honors in back-to-back seasons.
She went on to play professionally for Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica, where she was the team's leading goal
scorer, and KR Reykjavík in Iceland, where she led the league in both goals and assists as her team won the 2021
Icelandic title, before playing for IFK Kalmar in Sweden.
Katie brings that experience to Top Dawg in more ways than technical training. She also works one-on-one with
players on the mental side of the game — confidence and game-day preparation — using individualized
worksheets to help players build the same edge she developed over years of high-level competition.
Most recently, in 2025, she played for a team affiliated with NWSL side Angel City FC at TST — The Soccer
Tournament.