OGDEN, Utah (Nov. 4, 2014) - The Big Sky Conference has announced its 2014 women’s soccer All-Conference team and individual award winners. The selections were made in a vote by the league’s 11 head coaches Monday morning. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Idaho State senior Amanda Ellsworth was named the Offensive MVP, while Montana senior Brooke Moody and Northern Colorado junior Adrienne Jordan were named Co-Defensive MVP. Portland State junior Caitlin Plese was named Goalkeeper of the Year. Montana freshman Hallie Widner was named Newcomer of the Year.
Ellsworth finished the season with six goals and one assist in conference play. Ellsworth’s 13 points tied for tops in the conference. The senior from Roseville, Calif., led an Idaho State offense that scored 15 goals in conference. After recording a hat trick in a 5-4 win over Hawaii, Ellsworth was named the Offensive Player of the Week. Ellsworth finished the regular-season with 13 goals and 2 assists, giving her 22 points.
Montana’s Brooke Moody, a senior from Parker, Colo., was one of the leaders of a defense that only allowed four goals in conference play, leading the league. The Grizzlies had a league-leading seven shutouts in conference. Moody’s defensive play helped Montana win the Big Sky regular-season title, going unbeaten in the league for the first time since 1999.
Northern Colorado’s Adrienne Jordan, a junior from Colorado Springs, Colo., was a key component of a Bears’ defense that allowed nine goals in conference play. The Bears had a total of three shutouts in conference. UNC is back in the conference tournament as the fourth seed behind Jordan’s defensive efforts.
Portland State’s Caitlin Plese, a junior from Enumclaw, Wash., was one of the leaders of a defense that only allowed seven goals in conference play. Plese ranked third in the league with a .67 goals against average. Plese’s four shutouts in league play was good for third in the league. This marks the second-straight year that Plese has earned the Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Montana’s Hallie Widner, a freshman from Meridian, Idaho, played in all 19 matches for the Grizzlies, starting in all of them. The freshman finished the conference season with five goals and one assist, giving her 11 points. Widner recorded two game-winning goals in conference play, helping the Grizzlies earn the No. 1 seed in the Big Sky Championship.
The 2014 Golden Boot Award is awarded to the player(s) who lead the conference in points collected during league play. Idaho State forward Amanda Ellsworth tallied six goals and one assist for 13 points in 10 conference matches. Northern Colorado’s Juliana Grover, a senior from Littleton, Colo., also had 13 points after recording five goals and three assist in conference. With 13 points each, Ellsworth and Grover are the Big Sky’s 2014 Golden Boot Award winners. This marks the third time Idaho State and Northern Colorado have a had a player win the Golden Boot. In 2012, Ellsworth won the Golden Boot award.
Idaho State’s Amanda Ellsworth was selected to the First Team All-Conference for the third straight season. Northern Colorado’s Adrienne Jordan, and Portland State’s Caitlin Plese, Kayla Henningsen and Cori Bianchini were selected to the First Team All-Conference for the second time.
Montana has four players receiving First-Team honors in Moody, Widner, and senior midfielders Tyler Adair and Chloe Torres.
Portland State had three players earn First-Team honors in Plese, Henningsen and Bianchini.
Northern Arizona placed two players on the First-Team in senior defender Sarah Tarver and junior forward Haley Wingender. For the first time since 2009, Eastern Washington placed a player on the First-Team in freshman midfielder Chloe Williams.
Northern Colorado had one player earn First-Team honors in Jordan. Idaho State placed one player on the First-Team in Ellsworth.
For the first time in league history, the Big Sky Soccer Championship will feature six teams. Montana, Portland State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Idaho State and Eastern Washington will compete in the 2014 Big Sky Championship this weekend in Missoula, Mont. The Grizzlies will host the Big Sky Championship for the first time since 2000.
All of the conference tournament matches can be viewed on WatchBigSky.BigSkyConf.com.
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Big Sky Conference 2014 Soccer Individual Award Winners |
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Offensive MVP |
Co-Defensive MVP |
Goalkeeper of the Year |
Newcomer of the Year |
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Amanda Ellsworth, Idaho State |
Brooke Moody, Montana |
Caitlin Plese, Portland State |
Hallie Widner, Montana |
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Adrienne Jordan, Northern Colorado |
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2014 Big Sky Women's Soccer
All-Conference Teams
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First Team |
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Position |
Name |
School |
Year |
|
Goalkeepers |
%Caitlin Plese |
Portland State |
Junior |
|
Defenders |
Brooke Moody |
Montana |
Senior |
|
|
Sarah Tarver |
Northern Arizona |
Senior |
|
|
%Adrienne Jordan |
Northern Colorado |
Junior |
|
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%Kayla Henningsen |
Portland State |
Senior |
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Midfielders |
Chloe Williams |
Eastern Washington |
Freshman |
|
|
*Tyler Adair |
Montana |
Senior |
|
|
Chloe Torres |
Montana |
Senior |
|
|
%Cori Bianchini |
Portland State |
Junior |
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Forwards |
*$Amanda Ellsworth |
Idaho State |
Senior |
|
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Hallie Widner |
Montana |
Freshman |
|
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Haley Wingender |
Northern Arizona |
Junior |
|
%Two-Time Selection $Three-Time Selection |
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*Unanimous Selection |
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Second Team |
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Positions |
Name |
School |
Year |
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Goalkeeper |
Kailey Norman |
Montana |
Sophomore |
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Defenders |
Katie Cashman |
Eastern Washington |
Senior |
|
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Tess Brenneman |
Montana |
Sophomore |
|
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Kelsey Henningsen |
Portland State |
Senior |
|
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Brecken Holbrook |
Weber State |
Junior |
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Midfielders |
Cierra Gamble |
Northern Arizona |
Junior |
|
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Bianca Muñoz |
Portland State |
Sophomore |
|
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Maggie Pleis |
Sacramento State |
Sophomore |
|
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Abbie Flandro |
Southern Utah |
Freshman |
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Forwards |
Cassie Black |
Eastern Washington |
Senior |
|
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Mackenzie Akins |
Montana |
Junior |
|
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Juliana Grover |
Northern Colorado |
Senior |
Honorable Mention
Goalkeepers – Nathalie Schwery - Eastern Washington; Natalie Gilbertson - Northern Arizona; Kimberly Mata - Sacramento State
Defenders - Kayla Sutter - Eastern Washington; Elexis Schlossarek - Idaho; Emily Ngan - Idaho; Vanessa Cabilan - Idaho State; Mikaela Carrillo - Idaho State; Taylor McBride - Idaho State; Mary Gintz - Montana; Chanelle Pederson - Montana; Diane Buzzard - Northern Arizona; Ashlynn Curnow - Northern Arizona; Loren Landrus - Northern Colorado; Torie Morris - Portland State; Regan Smithers - Sacramento State; Kassi Anast - Sacramento State; Jessica French - Southern Utah
Midfielders - Chloe Bell - Idaho; Lauren Bermudez - Idaho State; Katherine Roberts - Idaho State; Savannah Berry - Northern Arizona; Kassy Castillo - Northern Colorado; Ariana Cooley - Portland State; Lydia Bowman - Sacramento State; Alyssa Gomez - Southern Utah; Kendra Smith - Weber State; Mackenzie Peck - Weber State
Forwards - Savannah Hoekstra - Eastern Washington; Olivia Baggerly - Idaho; Maria Sanchez - Idaho State; Savannah Witt - Montana; Adrian Nixt - Northern Arizona; Demi Schmieder - Northern Arizona; Tamia Hasan - Portland State; Adaurie Dayak - Sacramento State; Kristen Bridges - Sacramento State; Chelsea Arnold - Sacramento State; Nancy Brich - Southern Utah; Mackenzie Harrison - Weber State