University of Minnesota Athletics
Bethke, Clark Earn All-Region Honors
12/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
A pair of Minnesota soccer players have garnered postseason honors as the 2009 All-Region teams were Released today (Dec. 14). Katie Bethke and Jennie Clark have each been named among the best in the Great Lakes Region by both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Soccer America Magazine.
Each in just their junior year, Clark was named a first team defender from each publication, while Bethke was honored by each as a third team forward.
Clark, a Norwalk, Iowa native earns All-Region Honors for the second straight year, but for the first time from the NCSAA or Soccer America. As a sophomore last season, she was a Soccer Buzz All-Region First Team honoree. This also marks the second consecutive season that Minnesota has placed someone on the NSCAA All-Region First Team, as Kelsey Hood was honored last season.
This season, Clark also earned First Team All-Big Ten accolades for the second straight year, and led a defense that pitched 10 shutouts, allowing a mere 14 goals in 20 games. The 10 shutouts are tied for the third best single season in Gopher history, and reside behind the record 17 from last season as the second best mark of the decade. Clark has now started 62 straight matches heading into her final season and has been a starter in the last 34 Minnesota shutouts. She was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this season, as she led the Gophers to a win and shutout over then No. 9 Purdue. It was the first time Purdue was held without a goal on the season and the second career time Clark earned player of the week honors.
A native of Eau Claire, Wis. Bethke earns All-Region honors for the first time in her career, after earning second team All-Big Ten laurels for the first time as well. As the offensive leader, she had a career season, pacing the team in goals assists, points, and shots. A starter in 59 career matches, she was at her best this season. Bethke ended the year with 11 goals and seven assists for 29 points as well as 65 shots. Her goal, point and shot totals all represent career highs, and are some of the best marks in recent memory. Her 29 points are the most since 1998 while her 11 goals stand as the most since 2002. Her performance against South Dakota stands as one of the best in Gopher history as she tabbed 10 points on four goals and two assists. That, along with her game-winner goal the night before, earned her Big Ten Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
The Golden Gophers finished the season with a 12-5-3 record and a 5-3-2 mark to finish in fourth place in the Big Ten.
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