CLEVELAND -- The Mid-American Conference announced its 2008 women’s soccer All-MAC teams, as well as its Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year on Thursday, as voted by the league’s head coaches.
Toledo forward Molly Cornwell took home MAC Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season after leading the Rockets to its first regular season conference championship. Cornwell becomes the second MAC student-athlete to win the award in back-to-back seasons (Ashley Swineheart, Miami in 2003 & 2004). She has led the Toledo attack all season and ranks first in match-winning scores (5), second in shots (60), third in shots per match (3.16), tied for eighth in goals (5), goals per match (0.32) and points (17), ninth in points per match (0.89) and tied for 10th in assists (5). She was also named to the 2008 All-MAC first-team for the second time in as many years.
Central Michigan’s Tom Anagnost becomes the first coach from Central Michigan to win MAC Coach of the Year honors. Anagnost was named the Central Michigan University soccer program’s third head coach on Oct. 15, 2008, taking over for Tony DiTucci after he resigned seven matches into the season. The Chippewas began the year 5-2 with DiTucci at the helm and Anagnost began serving as acting head coach on Sept. 26 against Ball State. The Chippewas finished the regular season with an overall record of 13-4-3 (6-2-3 MAC) and earned a No. 2 seed in the MAC Women’s Soccer Tournament. Central Michigan’s Stephanie Martin and Amanda Waugh garnered first-team honors this season, while Liesel Toth, Sarah Burns and Shay Mannino were selected to this year’s All-MAC second-team. This marked the second consecutive year that Martin was selected to the All-MAC first-team.
Toledo’s Vicki Traven was selected as Freshman of the Year and became the first Toledo student-athlete to receive the honor. As a freshman Traven bolstered the Toledo Rockets defense with a .60 goals against average, .862 save percentage, and posted six shutouts. Her statistics have placed her second in the conference and 22nd in the nation for goals against average. She also is rated third in the conference and 21st in the nation in save percentage.
Rounding out this year’s All-MAC first-team is Ball State’s Megan Ridley and Sarah Schumacker, Bowling Green’s Colleen Kordan and Alexa Arsenault, Eastern Michigan’s Katie Lozar and Katie Zundel, Miami’s Sara Lund and Ohio’s Amy Lower. Lund and Zundel were selected to the All-MAC first-team last season as well.
Joining the three Central Michigan selections on the All-MAC second-team are Kent State’s Catharine Marosszeky and Caitlin Hester, Miami’s Danielle Hays, Ball State’s Emily Rein, Bowling Green’s Corbie Yee, Buffalo’s Lindsey Bailey, Akron’s Britni Back and Toledo’s Tara Witt. Rein and Yee were also second-team selections last season .
Eastern Michigan and Toledo led the MAC All-Freshman team with three selections each. Chelsea Detrick, Vanessa Atanasoski and Julie Kaim represented the Eagles, while Jaimie Morsillo, Kristen Lynn and Traven represented the Rockets. Central Michigan (Toth, Claire Horton) and Bowling Green (Megan Amann, Alyssa Zuccaro) each had two selections apiece on this year’s squad. Rounding out the All-Freshman selections this season was Western Michigan’s Stephanie Skowneski.
The league championship semifinals will take place at Scott Park on the University of Toledo campus at 11 a.m. on Friday when No. 2 Central Michigan takes on No. 3 Eastern Michigan. No. 1 Toledo will face off against No. 4 Bowling Green at 2 p.m. The winners will play for the MAC Championship at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 9th.
2008 Women’s Soccer Post Season Honorees
2008 MAC All-Freshman Team
Megan Amann, Bowling Green
Alyssa Zuccaro, Bowling Green
Liesel Toth, Central Michigan
Claire Horton, Central Michigan
Chelsea Detrick, Eastern Michigan
Vanessa Atanasoski, Eastern Michigan
Julie Kaim, Eastern Michigan
Vicki Traven, Toledo
Jaimie Morsillo, Toledo
Kristen Lynn, Toledo
Stephanie Skowneski, Western Michigan
2008 All-MAC Second Team
Midfielder -- Catharine Marosszeky, Kent State
Midfielder Caitlin Hester, Kent State
Midfielder Danielle Hays, Miami
Forward Emily Rein, Ball State
Forward Corbie Yee, Bowling Green
Forward Lindsey Bailey, Buffalo
Forward Britni Back, Akron
Defender Liesel Toth, Central Michigan
Defender Sarah Burns, Central Michigan
Defender Tara Witt, Toledo
Goalkeeper Shay Mannino, Central Michigan
2008 All-MAC First Team
Midfielder Megan Ridley, Ball State
Midfielder Stephanie Martin, Central Michigan
Midfielder Katie Lozar, Eastern Michigan
Forward Sara Lund, Miami
Forward Amy Lower, Ohio
Forward Molly Cornwell, Toledo
Forward Amanda Waugh, Central Michigan
Defender Sarah Schumacker, Ball State
Defender Colleen Kordan, Bowling Green
Defender Katie Zundel, Eastern Michigan
Goalkeeper Alexa Arsenault, Bowling Green
Freshman of the Year
Toledo’s Vicki Traven
Player of the Year
Toledo’s Molly Cornwell
Coach of the Year
Central Michigan’s Tom Anagnost
