Women's Soccer places three on All-NACC First Team

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Three Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Soccer players earned First Team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference honors as the league released its 2013 honors Tuesday. Junior Anna Hirssig and sophomores Emily Ciesielczyk and Carley Pfannerstill were named to the first team, as eight Falcons were recognized by the league.

Also earning conference recognition was sophomore Brittany Klumpp (Rubicon, Wis.). Klumpp was named to the Second Team All-NACC. Four freshmen were picked for the All-Freshman Team, bringing the Falcons total to eight players honored by the NACC. Goalkeeper Ariana Worthing (Saginaw, Mich.), defender Abigail Freeland (Grafton, Wis.), midfielder Halie Schieffer (Belgium, Wis.) and midfielder Rachel Suarez (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) all earned All-Freshman honors.

Pfannerstill (Grafton, Wis.) led CUW in points this season, finishing with 33. The sophomore tied for the team lead with 14 goals, while adding five assists. She scored 22 points in 11 regular season conference matches.

Hirssig (Rochester, Minn.) burst onto the scene this season, scoring 31 points. The junior netted 14 goals and added three assists, while leading the Falcons in points scored in conference matches with 25. Before the year Hirssig had seven career points, but took on a much bigger role offensively in 2013.

Ciesielczyk (Waukesha, Wis.) also played a big part in the offensive production for CUW, finishing the year with 22 points. The midfielder led the team in assists for the second straight season, totaling eight. She also added seven goals.

Klumpp, who was named the NACC Freshman of the Year last season, had a strong sophomore campaign, finishing with eight goals for the Falcons. Klumpp missed a couple games early in the season, but battled back for a strong conference showing where she finished with five scores.

Freeland, Schieffer and Suarez combined for 15 points this fall as, showing the future looks bright for the Falcons. Suarez led the group with nine points (2G, 5A), while Schieffer added a goal and two assists. Freeland did most of her work defensively, but also had two assists.

Worthing gained her recognition after starting 18 matches in goal for CUW. She recorded 42 saves and posted an 8-6-0 record. The freshman was even better in NACC play, going 6-2-0 and posting a 0.84 goals against average.

Aurora was honored with two of the four major awards as Jenee Lange was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, while Nicci Bermudes took home Offensive Player of the Year. Sara Travia of MSOE was named the Freshman of the Year and Edgewood's Tim Alexander was honored as Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a 10-1-0 NACC season.

With these eight Falcons all expected to return in 2014, CUW certainly looks to be poised for another successful run. The Falcons finished 2013 with a 10-8-1 overall record and earned the No. 3 seed in the NACC Tournament.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jenee Lange, Aurora
Offensive Player of the Year: Nicci Bermudes, Aurora
Freshman of the Year: Sara Travia, MSOE
Coach of the Year: Tim Alexander, Edgewood

First Team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Tori Fortney Edgewood Jr. GK Geneva, Ill.
Brianna Franken Edgewood Sr. D De Pere, Wis.
Anna Hirssig Concordia Wisconsin Jr. D Rochester, Minn.
Jenee Lange Aurora Sr. D Green Bay, Wis.
Jenna Mineau Edgewood Jr. D Green Bay, Wis.
Lisa Bajkowski Aurora Jr. M Oswego, Ill.
Emily Ciesielczyk Concordia Wisconsin So. M Waukesha, Wis.
Brittany Syms Marian Jr. M Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Nicole Wolfe Aurora Jr. M Chula Vista, Calif.
Nicci Bermudes Aurora So. F San Diego, Calif.
Paula Bohl MSOE Sr. F Muskego, Wis.
Nikki Jhanji Benedictine Sr. F Orland Park, Ill.
Carley Pfannerstill Concordia Wisconsin So. F Grafton, Wis.
Sara Travia MSOE Fr. F Glendale, Wis.

Second Team All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Kate Gucinski Wisconsin Lutheran Jr. GK Appleton, Wis.
Callie Hasselbring Concordia Chicago Jr. GK Houston, Texas
Caitlyn Rosenberger Marian Jr. GK Pewaukee, Wis.
Jaime Anderson Marian So. D Menasha, Wis.
Meagan Johnson Benedictine Sr. D Lemont, Ill.
Courtney Smalarz Dominican Sr. D Lemont, Ill.
Allison Zimont MSOE Sr. D Kalamazoo, Mich.
Laura Maly Marian Jr. M Neenah, Wis.
Nava Moniriarani Alverno Sr. M Oak Creek, Wis.
Natalie Weinhold Concordia Chicago Fr. M St. Peters, Mo.
Jennifer Dailey Edgewood Jr. F Waunakee, Wis.
Brittany Klumpp Concordia Wisconsin So. F Rubicon, Wis.
Kelly Petty Dominican Sr. F Crystal Lake, Ill.
Alyssa Soulis Concordia Chicago Sr. F Grayslake, Ill.

Honorable Mention: Leisa Conn (Marian, Jr., F); Haley Gaines (Edgewood, Fr., D);
Taylor Jahnke (Lakeland, Sr., D); Emily Sowinski (Wisconsin Lutheran, Jr., D).

All-Freshman Team
Maddy Crawford Aurora Fr. GK Plymouth, Minn.
Ariana Worthing Concordia Wisconsin Fr. GK Saginaw, Mich.
Abigail Freeland Concordia Wisconsin Fr. D Grafton, Wis.
Molly Kovarik Marian Fr. D Walworth, Wis.
Kait Riley MSOE Fr. D Wauwatosa, Wis.
Beth Westphal Wisconsin Lutheran Fr. D Fond du Lac, Wis.
Stevie Grable Edgewood Fr. M Oshkosh, Wis.
Halie Schieffer Concordia Wisconsin Fr. M Belgium, Wis.
Emily Skaer Edgewood Fr. M Neenah, Wis.
Rachel Suarez Concordia Wisconsin Fr. M Mt. Prospect, Ill.
Natalie Weinhold Concordia Chicago Fr. M St. Peters, Mo.
Brittany Brewer Benedictine Fr. F Oswego, Ill.
Mikaila Johnson Marian Fr. F Almond, Wis.
Sara Travia MSOE Fr. F Glendale, Wis.