KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Honors began rolling in, Wednesday, for the record-breaking 2017 Missouri Western soccer team.
A record, 10 Griffons were named All-MIAA with three first team selections. Every Griffon with more than 11 starts this season picked up an All-MIAA honor.
Cassidy Menke was named first team for the second year in a row after leading the MIAA with 14 goals this season. Joining Menke on the first team were defender Bridget Blessie and midfielder Madeline Cowell. Blessie picked up her second All-MIAA honor after being named to the third team in 2015. Cowell’s first team selection this year was the first All-MIAA distinction for the junior.
Three Griffons were named to the second team, including goalkeeper Sarah Lyle, defender Sarah Blakley and forward Sydney Cluck. For Lyle, it was the third second team selection in her career (2014 & 15). Blakley became a first time All-MIAA selection as did Cluck.
Midfielder Megan Maenner was named to the third team, the first All-MIAA honor for the junior.
The rest of Missouri Western’s starting back line all picked up honorable mention honors. Bailey Ketcham became a first time All-MIAA honoree while Paige Phipps picked up her third honorable mention nod (2014 & 16) as did Ashlyn Powers (2015 & 16).
Missouri Western finished the regular season 15-2 and tied for second in the MIAA standings, earning the No. 2 seed in this week’s MIAA Championshps by way of a win over Northeastern State. The Griffons, who were picked sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, host Central Oklahoma on Wednesday in the first round of the conference’s postseason tournament.
2017 All-MIAA Women’s Soccer Team
Offensive Player of the Year
Jada Scott, F, Central Missouri
Defensive Player of the Year
Kayla Hamner, D, Central Missouri
Goalkeeper of the Year
Anna Dilkes, GK, Central Missouri
Freshman of the Year
Paulina Chavez, F, Northeastern State
Coach of the Year
Lewis Theobald, Central Missouri
First Team
GK: Anna Dilkes, Sr., Central Missouri**%@
D: Bridget Blessie, Sr., Missouri Western
D: Rebecca Gleason, Sr., Northeastern State
D: Kayla Hamner, Sr., Central Missouri**%
MF: Madeline Cowell, Jr., Missouri Western
MF: Kelsie Eason, Fr., Central Oklahoma
MF: Baylie Edwards, Sr., Central Missouri**
MF: Eden Stoddard, Sr., Fort Hays State
MF: Megan Woolley, Sr., Central Missouri%@
F: Paulina Chavez, Fr., Northeastern State
F: Cassidy Menke, Jr., Missouri Western%
F: Abby Rhodes, Sr., Central Missouri**@
F: Jada Scott, Jr., Central Missouri%@
Results reflect tie in voting
**=Unanimous Selection
%=2016 First Team Selection
@=2015 First Team Selection
Second Team
GK: Sarah Lyle, Sr., Missouri Western
D: Sarah Blakley, Sr., Missouri Western
D: Skylar Drum, Fr., Central Missouri
D: Courtney Killian, Jr., Central Missouri
D: Ronise Miller, Sr., Missouri Southern
D: Baylie Schmitz, Sr., Fort Hays State
MF: Melissa Giles, Sr., Northeastern State
MF: Becky Roberts, Sr., Lindenwood
MF: Izzy Romano, So., Northwest Missouri
F: Sydney Cluck, Sr., Missouri Western
F: Asha Haile, So., Central Oklahoma
F: Makayla Toth, Fr., Central Missouri
Third Team
GK: Kaitlin Minnich, Sr., Washburn
GK: Kristen Thompson, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: Leah Mettam, Fr., Emporia State
D: Madison Motil, So., Central Oklahoma
D: Rebecca Weimer, Sr., Washburn
MF: Jasmine Beaulieu, Sr., Fort Hays State
MF: Tara Benefiel, So., Emporia State
MF: Tera Lynch, Fr., Washburn
MF: Megan Maenner, Jr., Missouri Western
F: Katie Killion, Jr., Central Oklahoma
F: Mikayla Lowery, Sr., Central Oklahoma
F: Julia Mathis, Sr., Northeastern State
Honorable Mention
Central Oklahoma: Camille Greer, MF
Emporia State: Bethany Reeves, GK
Fort Hays State: Taryn Schnell, D
Lindenwood: Katie Juhlin, D; Alaina White, D
Missouri Western: Bailey Ketcham, D; Paige Phipps, D; Ashlyn Powers, D
Nebraska-Kearney: Kelsie Ienn, D; Marika Van Brocklin, D; Molly Willis, D; Kaitlyn Pawloski, MF; Tori Weber, MF
Northeastern State: Meg Smith, GK; Mariah Nicolet, F
Northwest Missouri: Annie Poelzl, D; Mollie Holtman, F
Southwest Baptist: Tessa Wagner, D; AC Pettit, MF; Raegan Edwards, F
Washburn: Mackenzie Heiman, D; Presley Wiggins, D; Olivia Grasso, MF; Ellie Karloff, F; Emily Stauffer, F; Paige Swanson, F
— MWSU Athletics —