Five Horizon League women's soccer players earn All-Great Lakes Region honors from NSCAA

Dec. 1, 2006

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Indianapolis, Ind. -- While the 2006 women's soccer season is over for all except the final four teams competing in this weekend's Women's College Cup, the awards continue to flow in for Horizon League participants. Five League players were recognized Thursday (Nov. 30) when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced its All-Great Lakes Region teams.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior defender Ginny Graczyk was among 11 players named to the First-Team unit. The veteran backliner played every minute of every match this season, anchoring a Panther defensive unit that registered school records for victories (16), shutouts (16) and goals-against average (fourth-best in the nation at 0.44) while winning the regular-season loop title for the seventh consecutive year. UWM advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship for the second year in a row, finishing with a 16-4-2 overall ledger.

Graczyk, who earned First-Team All-League accolades on the field for the third time this fall, also received Second-Team CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America recognition last week.

Loyola University Chicago midfielder Cynthia Morote-Ariza was the lone freshman among the top two groups, gaining Second-Team All-Region recognition. Morote-Ariza received the League's Newcomer of the Year award and paced the Ramblers to the League Championship and a berth in the NCAA Championship this fall, setting a single-season school record with 27 points. Her nine assists led the League and she finished fifth on the loop charts with nine goals and third in points.

Three League performers landed on the Third Team as Wright State University teammates Jess Rooma and Steph Comisar shared that distinction with UW-Milwaukee sophomore midfielder Sarah Teegarden.

Comisar, a senior goalkeeper, posted eight shutouts and a 1.01 goals-against average, closing her career as the Raiders' all-time leader in career shutouts and minutes played. Her 23 shutouts are tied for second-most in League history, while only two League netminders have played more than Comisar's 6,494 minutes in goal. Rooma, a sophomore midfielder, posted three goals and three assists for WSU, earning First-Team All-League acclaim for the second year in a row. Teegarden registered five goals (all match-winners) and two assists for the regular-season League champion Panthers.

Top-ranked and undefeated University of Notre Dame placed three players on the First Team in sophomore forward Kerri Hanks, senior midfielder Jen Buczkowski and sophomore defender Caroline Dew. University of Illinois junior forward Ella Masar joined her teammate, sophomore defender Emily Zurrer, on the top unit, with University of Louisville junior Jamie Craft and Marquette University junior Allison Mallams completing the forward unit. Ohio State University junior Lara Dickenman and University of Wisconsin senior Kara Kabellis joined Jen Buczkowski in the midfield, with University of Kentucky senior Anne Ogundele named the top goalkeeper in the region.

As a First-Team honoree, Graczyk is eligible for All-America consideration, joining the top players from the other five regions on the NSCAA's national ballot. The coaches' association will announce its All-America selections next week.

###

National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Great Lakes Region Women's Soccer Teams

First-Team
Pos. * Name * School * Yr. * Hometown
GK * Anne Ogundele * Kentucky * Sr. * Mississauga, Ontario
D * Caroline Drew * Notre Dame * So. * Encinitas, Calif.
D * Ginny Graczyk * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * Libertyville, Ill.
D * Emily Zurrer * Illinois * So. * Vancouver, British Columbia
M * Jen Buczkowski * Notre Dame * Sr. * Elk Grove, Ill.
M * Lara Dickenman * Ohio State * Jr. * Kriens, Switzerland
M * Kara Kabellis * Wisconsin * Sr. * Homer Glen, Ill.
F * Jamie Craft * Louisville * Sr. * Owings, Md.
F * Kerri Hanks * Notre Dame * So. * Allen, Texas
F * Allison Mallams * Marquette * Jr. * Liberty, Mo.
F * Ella Masar * Illinois * Jr. * Urbana, Ill.

Second-Team
Pos. * Name * School * Yr. * Hometown
GK * Anne Decker * Central Michigan * Sr. * Troy, Mich.
D * Sarah Maxwell * Ball State * Sr. * Kalamazoo, Mich.
D * Melissa Miller * Ohio State * Sr. * Cincinnati, Ohio
D * Michelle Pitzl * Marquette * Sr. * Shoreview, Minn.
M * Amanda Cinalli * Notre Dame * Jr. * Maple Heights, Ohio
M * Jillian Krivacek * Notre Dame * Sr. * Geneva, Ill.
M * Jacquie Lacek * Central Michigan * Sr. * Rochester, N.Y.
M * Cynthia Morote-Ariza * Loyola * Fr. * Chicago, Ill.
F * Brittany Bock * Notre Dame * So. * Naperville, Ill.
F * Parissa Eyorokan * Purdue * Jr. * West Chester, Ohio
F * Kayla Lambert * Evansville * So. * Las Vegas, Nev.

Third-Team
Pos. * Name * School * Yr. * Hometown
GK * Steph Comisar * Wright State * Sr. * West Chester, Ohio
D * Erin Douglas * Cenral Michigan * Jr. * Guelph, Ontario
D * Kelly Lawrence * Indiana * Fr. * London, England
D * Kristy Wilson * Toledo * Sr. * Burlington, Ontario
M * Rosamaria Rego * Central Michigan * Sr. * Mississauga, Ontario
M * Jess Rooma * Wright State * So. * Westfield Center, Ohio
M * Vandi Odgen * Ball State * Sr. * Fishers, Ind.
M * Sarah Teegarden * UW-Milwaukee * So. * Batavia, Ill.
F * Sarah Foote * Drake * Jr. * Arvada, Colo.
F * Emily Rein * Ball State * So. * Cincinnati, Ohio
F * Mia Tofano * Evansville * So. * Las Vegas, Nev.