University of Minnesota Athletics
Six Gophers Earn Big Ten Plaudits
10/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
MINNEAPOLIS - Junior co-captain, Simone Kolander of the University of Minnesota women's soccer team was named the Forward of the Year by the Big Ten Conference in the announcement of the 2015 women's soccer All-Big Ten teams and individual honors on Friday.
Kolander leads the conference in goals (seven), to include six game-winners, five of which were netted in conference games. Kolander earned the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week earlier in the season (9/22) and also tabbed the espnW Player of the Week (9/23).
In Kolander's storied career at the University of Minnesota, the junior has notched 15 goals and 14 assists. She led the team with five assists her freshman campaign and has made an appearance in every game from her freshman year on. She collected the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week plaudit her sophomore year (8/26) and joined the Gopher soccer record book for 9 assists within a single season.
Juniors Josee Stiever and Rashida Beal also collected conference nods as they were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team. Stiever tallied four assists and four goals in the regular-season. She carries 13 goals and nine career assists.The Cedarburg, Wis. native was named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch list two years in a row. Beal stymied the Iowa and Nebraska attacks to help lead back-to-back shutouts this season. She is a key piece in the Gophers' defense that collected nine shutouts in the regular-season. Both Beal and Stiever have made appearances in every Gopher game in their three years on the team.
Freshmen April Bockin and Molly Fiedler were named to the All-Freshman Team. Bockin was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice this season (9/8 & 9/29). She has tallied two goals and four assists on the season. Fiedler fed three assists and both her and Bockin have solidified starting roles for the Gophers in their debut campaign.
The Big Ten also recognized 14 sportsmanship award honorees including Gopher sophomore Kellie McGahn. Athletes were chosen as those who have displayed sportsmanship, ethical behavior, have good academic standing and have shown citizenship both on and off the field.
The Big Ten tournament opens with quarterfinal games hosted by Wisconsin, Rutgers, Northwestern and Penn State this Sunday. Minnesota will take on the Scarlet Knights at 1:00 p.m. ET at Yurcak Field. The highest remaining seed will host the semifinals and the championship on Nov. 6 and Nov. 8, respectively.
2015 WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Coach of the Year: Paula Wilkins, Wisconsin
Forward of the Year: Simone Kolander, Minnesota
Midfielder of the Year: Rose Lavelle, Wisconsin
Defender of the Year: Erica Skroski, Rutgers
Goalkeeper of the Year: Casey Murphy, Rutgers
Freshman of the Year: Victoria Pickett, Wisconsin
All-Big Ten First Team
Forward: Ani Sarkisian, Michigan
Forward: Simone Kolander, Minnesota
Forward: Mallory Weber, Penn State
Midfield: Corinne Harris, Michigan
Midfield: Raquel Rodriguez, Penn State
Midfield: ROSE LAVELLE, Wisconsin
Defense: Christina Murillo, Michigan
Defense: Mary Katherine Fiebernitz, Michigan State
Defense: Brianne Reed, Rutgers
Defense: Erica Skroski, Rutgers
Goalkeeper: Casey Murphy, Rutgers
All-Big Ten Second Team
Forward: Jannelle Flaws, Illinois
Forward: Addie Steiner, Northwestern
Forward: Megan Schafer, Penn State
Midfield: Josee Stiever, Minnesota
Midfield: Emily Ogle, Penn State
Midfield: Victoria Pickett, Wisconsin
Defense: Rashida Beal, Minnesota
Defense: Jaylyn Odermann, Nebraska
Defense: Kaleigh Riehl, Penn State
Defense: Brianna Stelzer, Wisconsin
Goalkeeper: Caitlyn Clem, Wisconsin
All-Freshman Team*
Forward
Reilly Martin, Michigan
Lexy Warner, Michigan State
April Bockin, Minnesota
Alina Ortega-Jurado, Penn State
Midfield
Molly Fiedler, Minnesota
Marisa Viggiano, Northwestern
Sarah Roberts, Ohio State
Charlotte Williams, Penn State
Kate Walters, Rutgers
Victoria Pickett, Wisconsin
Defense
Sura Yekka, Michigan
Kayla Sharples, Northwestern
Ellie Jean, Penn State
Kaleigh Riehl, Penn State
Kenie Wright, Rutgers
Goalkeeper
DEVON KERR, Ohio State
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
*Additional honorees due to ties
Sportsmanship Award Honorees:
Anastasia Medellin, Sr., Illinois
Emily Basten, Sr., Indiana
Hannah Clark, Sr., Iowa
Rachelle Beanlands, Sr., Maryland
Corinne Harris, Sr., Michigan
Sarah Kovan, Sr., Michigan State
Kellie McGahn, So., Minnesota
Alli Peterson, So., Nebraska
Nandi Mehta, Sr., Northwestern
Sydney Dudley, So., Ohio State
Teddy Chase, Sr., Penn State
Kim Love, Sr., Purdue
Maggie Morash, Sr., Rutgers
Holly Heckendorf, Jr., Wisconsin
