Horizon League announces women's soccer All-League teams

Oct. 30, 2007

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Indianapolis, Ind -- Sophomore forward Cynthia Morote-Ariza of Loyola University Chicago scored yet another honor Tuesday (Oct. 30) when the Horizon League announced its postseason women's soccer awards.

The Chicago native, who ranks among the national leaders with 15 goals and 37 points this season, was named the Player of the Year in voting by the League's nine head coaches. Wright State University freshman forward Amber Kasmer earned the Newcomer of the Year trophy, while University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sideline boss Michael Moynihan received Coach-of-the-Year honors for the fifth time in his career.

Morote-Ariza set Loyola single-season records for goals and points, leading the Ramblers to a 7-1-0 League record and the second seed in the Horizon League Championship, which begins Tuesday night at Cleveland State University. The Rambler sophomore has played a part in 69 percent of her team's scoring, leading Loyola to a 12-8-0 overall record. Eleven of her 15 goals have come in League action, including four multi-goal performances. She notched a hat trick versus Cleveland State on Oct. 5 and added two goals in each of three other loop contests.

Kasmer ranked second in the League with 12 goals and 27 points during the regular season, hitting the net nine times in League play. Her scoring prowess helped lead the Raiders to a 5-2-1 League ledger and the third seed in the League Championship. WSU has tied a school single-season record with 12 victories (12-5-1 overall) and can eclipse the mark in its quarterfinal match versus sixth seed University of Detroit Mercy on Saturday.

Moynihan led his team to an eighth consecutive regular-season championship as the Panthers outscored their League foes 23-3 in posting a 7-0-1 loop record. A scoreless draw versus Detroit was the only blemish on UWM's League schedule this fall. The Panthers (11-4-3 overall) are now 48-1-3 in League play since 2001 and carry the top seed into the League Championship. Moynihan previously received Coach-of-the-Year honors in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2004.

Four of Moynihan's players earned First-Team All-League honors. Junior goalkeeper Erin Kane and junior midfielder Sarah Teegarden each won First-Team acclaim for the third year in a row, with Kane leading the League in shutouts (nine) and goals-against average (0.70). Kane set the Horizon League record for shutouts in a career, boasting 35 at the start of the League Championship. Teegarden anchored the midfielder for the Panthers while collecting two goals this season.

Sophomore midfielder Kate Megna and senior defender Amanda Winn rounded out the Milwaukee contingent on the first team. Megna posted four goals and four assists during the regular season, with Winn adding a pair of goals and one helper.

Morote-Ariza is one of three Loyola representatives on the top squad, each of whom won First-Team notice for the second consecutive year. Sophomore midfielder Jackie Vera collected a pair of goals this year, while Lau led the Rambler defense that yielded only four goals in eight League contests during the regular season.

Wright State junior mifielder Jess Rooma also received her third First-Team honor, scoring four goals with two assists while leading the Raider midfield. She joined Kasmer--the only freshman on the First-Team squad---to form one of the League's top attacks. Wright State tied Loyola with 32 goals for the most among League teams during the regular season.

Butler University also placed two teams on the First-Team honor roll in junior midfielder Angie Muir and sophomore defender Abbie Kaul. Muir stands third in all three major offensive categories, posting ten goals and six assists (26 points) during the regular season to pace the Bulldogs to a 9-8-1 overall record (5-3-0 in the League). Kaul added three goals and an assist for seven points. Butler finished the regular season with four consecutive victories to claim the fourth seed in the League Championship.

Three pairs of teammates earned Second-Team All-League honors. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay freshman forward Laura Hayward joined senior midfielder Lotte Rasmussen to form the Phoenix contingent, with junior defender Melanie Slusher and junior goalkeeper Katie Fortenberry representing Detroit. For Slusher, it was the second year in a row on the Second-Team rolls.

League newcomer Valparaiso University made an immediate impact on the voting with sophomore midfielder Ani Michl and junior defender Jackie Thomas honored while Wright State senior defender Cassie Jones joined Cleveland State junior forward Jennifer Wieand and Youngstown State University junior backliner Carrie Wack to complete the Second-Team list.

Kasmer headlined the 11-member All-Newcomer Team that also included Hayward and Loyola freshman goalkeeper Colleen Dougherty, who posted a 0.51 goals-against average and five shutouts in League play. Milwaukee freshman midfielder Nicole Sperl, the League's tenth-leading scorer with five goals and four assists (14 points) joined freshman midfielder Heather Roadhouse to represent the Panthers on the newcomer honor roll, with freshman forward Chelsea Lyons providing the other half of Green Bay's representation.

Butler and Wright State also had two All-Newcomer Team selections with sophomore forward Lindsey Fox and freshman midfielder Courtney Lord wearing Bulldog colors, while freshman midfielder Jen Agueci was WSU's other honoree. Detroit sophomore defender Alauna Pierce and Valparaiso freshman midfielder Lynnea Pappas rounded out the All-Newcomer Team.

Cleveland State hosts Youngstown State in the first round of the League Championship on Tuesday night, with the winner moving on to face top seed Milwaukee in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The highest remaining seed after Saturday's action earns the right to host the remainder of the tournament, with semifinals scheduled for Friday, Nov. 9, and the winner of the championship match (Sunday, Nov. 11) receiving an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship.

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2007 Horizon League Women's Soccer Award Winners

All-League First Team
Cynthia Morote-Ariza, Loyola (So., F)
Amber Kasmer, Wright State (Fr., F)
Angie Muir, Butler (Jr., M)
Jackie Vera, Loyola (So., M)
Kate Megna, Milwaukee (So., M)
Sarah Teegarden, Milwaukee (Jr., M)
Jess Rooma, Wright State (Jr., M)
Abbie Kaul, Butler (So., D)
Heather Lau, Loyola (Sr., D)
Amanda Winn, Milwaukee (Sr., D)
Erin Kane, Milwaukee (Jr., GK)

All-League Second Team
Jenny Southard, Butler (Jr., F)
Jennifer Wieand, Cleveland State (Jr., F)
Katie Heidenreich, Loyola (Sr., F)
Laura Hayward, Green Bay (Fr., F)
Ani Michl, Valparaiso (So., M)
Lotte Rasmussen, Green Bay (Sr., M)
Melanie Slusher, Detroit (Jr, D)
Jackie Thomas, Valparaiso (Jr., D)
Cassie Jones, Wright State (Sr., D)
Carrie Wack, Youngstown State (Jr., D)
Katie Fortenberry, Detroit (Jr., GK)

All-Newcomer Team
Lindsey Fox, Butler (So., F)
Laura Hayward, Green Bay (Fr., F)
Chelsea Lyons, Green Bay (Fr., F)
Amber Kasmer, Wright State (Fr., F)
Courtney Lord, Butler (Fr., M)
Heather Roadhouse, Milwaukee (Fr., M)
Nicole Sperl, Milwaukee (Fr., M)
Jen Agueci, Wright state (Fr., M)
Lynnea Pappas, Valparaiso (Fr., M)
Alauna Pierce, Detroit (So., D)
Colleen Dougherty, Loyola (Fr., GK)

Player of the Year: Cynthia Morote-Ariza, Loyola
Newcomer of the Year: Amber Kasmer, Wright State
Coach of the Year: Michael Moynihan, Milwaukee