University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Receive B1G Accolades
10/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
After winning a share of the Big Ten Conference regular season title on Wednesday, the Golden Gophers were well recognized in the post-season awards, announced today by the league office. Simone Kolander (Lakeville, Minn.) was named Big Ten Forward of the Year, Rashida Beal (Germantown, Wisc.) was named Big Ten Defender of the Year and Stefanie Golan was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Midfielder Josee Stiever joined Kolander and Beal on the All-Big Ten First Team, while goalkeeper Tarah Hobbs was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and defender Maddie Gaffney was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Third Team. Nikki Albrecht was recognized on the All-Freshman Team. Sophomore Emily Peterson was selected as Minnesota's Sportsmanship honoree.
Kolander earns the Big Ten Forward of the Year award for the second-straight season. She leads the conference in points (28) and points per game (1.47) this season. She also is second in the Big Ten in total goals (11) and total shots (72). A two-time first-team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Kolander was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 20.
Beal is a key member of a Minnesota defense that has ranked second in the Big Ten for fewest goals allowed (10), lowest goals-against average (0.51) and total shutouts (9). The Gophers defense only allowed three goals in Big Ten play. Beal is the first Golden Gopher to earn the Big Ten Defender of the Year award since the honor was created in 2011, and the first Minnesota student to garner any of the conference's defensive individual honors since 2008, when Kelsey Hood collected the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award.
Golan earns the Big Ten Coach of the Year award for the first time after guiding Minnesota to a share of its first Big Ten Championship since 2008 and the fourth in program history. The Golden Gophers posted a 7-1-3 conference record and are 13-3-3 overall, having been ranked among the nation's top 20 teams all season long, peaking at a program-record No. 8 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll on Sept. 27. Minnesota led the conference goals (42), goals/game (2.21), assists (40), assists/game (2.11), shots (345) and points (124).
COACH OF THE YEAR
Stefanie Golan, Minnesota
FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Simone Kolander, Minnesota
MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR
Rose Lavelle, Wisconsin
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Rashida Beal, Minnesota
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Lauren Clem, Northwestern
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Nicole Whitley, Rutgers
ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM
Simone Kolander, Minnesota
Jaycie Johnson, Nebraska
Frannie Crouse, Penn State
Josee Stiever, Minnesota
Nickolette Driesse, Penn State
Rose Lavelle, Wisconsin
Rashida Beal, Minnesota
Kayla Sharples, Northwestern
Elizabeth Ball, Penn State
Erin Smith, Rutgers
Lauren Clem, Northwestern
ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM
Reilly Martin, Michigan
Nicky Waldeck, Michigan
Lindsay Agnew, Ohio State
Nichelle Prince, Ohio State
Madison Tiernan, Rutgers
Ani Sarkisian, Michigan
Caroline Flynn, Nebraska
Marisa Viggiano, Northwestern
Nikki Walts, Ohio State
Anna Soccorsi, Michigan
Sydney Miramontez, Nebraska
Morgan Wolcott, Ohio State
Tarah Hobbs, Minnesota
ALL-BIG TEN THIRD TEAM
Megan Schafer, Penn State
Nandi Mehta, Northwestern
Haley Hanson, Nebraska
Charlotte Williams, Penn State
Nicole Whitley, Rutgers
Hope D'Addario, Illinois
Marissa Borschke, Indiana
Maddie Gaffney, Minnesota
Kassidy Gorman, Northwestern
Caitlyn Clem, Wisconsin
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Macy Miller, Indiana
Meg Brandt, Nebraska
Maddy Lucas, Northwestern
Taylor Aylmer, Rutgers
Dani Rhodes, Wisconsin
Natalie Winters, Iowa
Laura Freigang, Penn State
Nicole Whitley, Rutgers
Allie Winterfield, Wisconsin
Nikki Albrecht, Minnesota
Sinclaire Miramontez, Nebraska
Amanda Visco, Rutgers
Amanda Dennis, Penn State
SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Jenna Miller, Illinois
Kylie Kirk, Indiana
Morgan Kemerling, Iowa
Hope Gouterman, Maryland
Jessica Heifetz, Michigan
Kaitlyn Collin, Michigan State
Emily Peterson, Minnesota
Amanda McClanahan, Nebraska
Nandi Mehta, Northwestern
Lindsay Agnew, Ohio State
Isabelle Clauss, Penn State
Megan Kaser, Purdue
Tori Prager, Rutgers
Chloe Knudston, Wisconsin
