TOLEDO, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced its 2010 women's soccer All-MAC teams, as well as its Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year on Thursday, as voted by the league's head coaches.
The Offensive Player of the Year honor was earned by Western Michigan forward Stephanie Skowneski. The junior from Clinton Township, Mich. is tied for the conference lead in goals with nine, is first in shots (64) and sits second in points (22). After being voted to the All-Freshman team in 2008, this is her first time being named to the All-MAC First Team.
The Defensive Player of the Year award was snagged by Monique Budani. The Eastern Michigan goalkeeper led the MAC in saves on the season with 146, 50 more than the second place finisher in that category. The senior also had seven shutouts to her credit and ended her season with a goals against average of just 1.03.
Freshman of the Year was given to Toledo's Rachel MacLeod. The forward from Westerville, Ohio has found the back of the net five times for the conference co-champion thus far, starting 17 of the Rockets' 20 games.
Joining MacLeod in earning individual honors from the Toledo squad was head coach Brad Evans. The 10th year head coach at UT wins the award for the first time in his career after leading his team to a 15-3-2 record so far on the season. Included in that record is a 10-1-0 mark in the MAC, nearly becoming the first MAC squad to finish the conference season undefeated. Erin Flynn and Kristen Lynn also made the first team from the Rockets.
Well-represented on the All-MAC first team were the Central Michigan Chippewas. The regular season co-champ led all schools with four players on the team: forward Laura Twidle, midfielder Valerie Prause, and defenders Liesel Toth and Bailey Brandon. Toth and Prause claim first-team honors for the second consecutive year while Brandon makes the move onto the first team after being named Freshman of the Year in 2009.
Rounding out the first team were Eastern Michigan forward Paige Sheridan, Western Michigan midfielder Nicole Dulyea, and defenders Mo Smunt of Northern Illinois and Sarah Brown of Ohio.
Leading the second team with four members were the Miami RedHawks. The Red and White were represented at all positions as forward Giselle Mangal, midfielders Katy Dolesh and Kayla Zakrzewski, and defender Brooke Livingston all made the squad. Also included on the second team were Vicki Traven, Brittany Hensler and Rachael Kravitz of Toledo, Stephanie Clarke and Julie Kaim of Eastern Michigan, Nikkolette Rivera of Western Michigan, and Missy Gordon of Ball State.
Leading the way on the all-Freshman team with three selections was Central Michigan. Estee Outcalt, Nicole Samuel and Kaely Schlosser all earned the nod from the league's head coaches for their strong rookie campaigns. Miami had two of its all-MAC second team members also named to the all-Freshman team: midfielders Dolesh and Zakrzewski. Finishing off this year's team was Jessacca Gironda of Kent State, Stephanie Clarke of Eastern Michigan, Kelly DeNiro of Akron, Madeline Wideman of Bowling Green, and Mattie Liston of Ohio.
The MAC Women's Soccer Championship resumes on Friday with two semifinals. At 11 AM, the Central Michigan Chippewas will do battle with the Miami RedHawks leading up to the 2 PM game between the Western Michigan Broncos and host Toledo Rockets. The winners of tomorrow's semifinals will play for the MAC Championship on Sunday, November 7th at 1 PM.
Freshman of the Year: Rachel MacLeod, Toledo
Offensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Skowneski, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: Monique Budani, Eastern Michigan
Coach of the Year: Brad Evans, Toledo
First Team:
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Monique Budani
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Eastern Michigan
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GK
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Laura Twidle
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Central Michigan
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F
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Stephanie Skowneski
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Western Michigan
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F
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Paige Sheridan
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Eastern Michigan
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F
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Nicole Dulyea
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Western Michigan
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MF
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Valerie Prause
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Central Michigan
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MF
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Erin Flynn
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Toledo
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MF
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Liesel Toth
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Central Michigan
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D
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Bailey Brandon
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Central Michigan
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D
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Mo Smunt
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Northern Illinois
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D
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Sarah Brown
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Ohio
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D
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Kristen Lynn
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Toledo
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F
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Second Team:
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Vicki Traven
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Toledo
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GK
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Brittany Hensler
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Toledo
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F
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Stephanie Clarke
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Eastern Michigan
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F
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Giselle Mangal
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Miami
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F
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Nikkolette Rivera
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Western Michigan
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MF
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Missy Gordon
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Ball State
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MF
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Kayla Zakrzewski
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Miami
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MF
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Katy Dolesh
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Miami
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MF
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Brooke Livingston
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Miami
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D
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Rachael Kravitz
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Toledo
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D
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Julie Kaim
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Eastern Michigan
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D
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All-Freshman Team
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Rachel MacLeod
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Toledo
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Katy Dolesh
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Miami
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Jessacca Gironda
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Kent State
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Stephanie Clarke
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Eastern Michigan
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Kayla Zakrzewski
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Miami
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Nicole Samuel
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Central Michigan
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Kaely Schlosser
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Central Michigan
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Kelly DeNiro
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Akron
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Madeline Wideman
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Bowling Green
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Estee Outcalt
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Central Michigan
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Mattie Liston
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Ohio
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