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OGDEN, Utah (Oct. 31) - The Big Sky Conference has announced its 2011 women’s soccer All-Conference team and individual award winners. The selections were made in a vote by the league’s eight head coaches Monday morning. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Portland State junior Megan Martin was named Offensive MVP, while Northern Colorado Senior Aundreaha Martinez was named Defensive MVP. Northern Colorado’s Kirstin Salminen was named Goalkeeper of the Year. Idaho State freshman Amanda Ellsworth and Weber State freshman Mackenzie Day were named co-Newcomer of the Year.
Martin finished the season with five goals and one assist in conference play. Her 11 points were tops in the conference, making her the Big Sky’s 2011 Golden Boot Award winner. The junior from Beavercreek, Ore., led a Portland State offense that was the league leader in assists and tied for second in goals. Martin started conference play with a hat trick against Sacramento State. After the performance Martin earned Offensive Player of the week. When PSU traveled to Montana this season, PSU beat UM 2-0, she was responsible for both goals.
Martinez, a senior from Olympia, Wash., was one of the leaders of a defense that only allowed four goals in conference play. Her play helped Northern Colorado win the co-Big Sky regular-season title, making the first time the soccer championship will be played in Greeley, Colo.
Northern Colorado’s Kirstin Salminen, a senior from Lynden, Wash., was one of the leaders, along with Martinez, of a defense that only allowed four goals in conference play. Salminen led the league with seven shutouts overall. In conference matches, Salminen was second in the league with a .879 save percentage. Salminen has earned four Big Sky Player of the Week awards in her career.
Ellsworth, a freshman from Roseville, Calif., led Idaho State with six goals and two assists. Ellsworth ended the 2011 season tied for fourth with 14 points. Ellsworth scored two game-winning goals in conference play, including an overtime goal against Sacramento State to keep its post season chances alive.
Weber State’s Mackenzie Day, a freshman from Syracuse, Utah, started every match for the Wildcats and helped anchor a defense that had the league best .98 goals against average for all matches.
The 2011 Golden Boot Award is awarded to the player(s) who lead the conference in points collected during league play. Portland State midfielder Megan Martin tallied five goals and one assists for 11 points in seven conference matches. This marks the fourth time Portland State has had a player win the Golden Boot. Dolly Enneking was the last Viking to win the award in 2009.
Portland State senior defender Toni Carnovale has been selected for First Team All-Conference for the third straight year. Northern Arizona senior midfielder Sam Monahan has been selected for a second straight year.
Montana sophomore midfielder India Watne and junior forward Erin Craig were both unanimous selections. Northern Arizona’s Monahan and Portland State’s Martin were also unanimous selections.
Northern Colorado has five players receive first-team honors in Martinez, Salminen, junior defender Alexsys Tamayo, junior midfielder JJ Wykstra and senior forward Ariel Cook. Montana placed three players on the first team. Portland State and Northern Arizona each placed two players on the first team, while Weber State and Sacramento State each had one.
Northern Colorado, Montana, Portland State, and Weber State will compete in the Big Sky Championship this weekend in Greeley, Colo.
All of the conference tournament matches can be viewed on BigSky TV.
Big Sky Conference 2011 Individual Award Winners
| Offensive MVP |
Defensive MVP |
Co-Newcomer of the Year |
Goalkeeper of the Year |
| Megan Martin, PSU |
Aundreaha Martinez, NC |
Amanda Ellsworth, ISU |
Kirstin Salminen, NC |
| |
|
Mackenzie Day, WSU |
|
2011 Big Sky Women's Soccer
All-Conference Teams
FIRST TEAM
| Position |
Name |
School |
Year |
| Goalkeeper |
Kirstin Salminen |
Northern Colorado |
Senior |
| Defenders |
#Toni Carnovale |
Portland State |
Senior |
| |
Lauren Costa |
Montana |
Junior |
| |
Aundreaha Martinez |
Northern Colorado |
Senior |
| |
Alexsys Tamayo |
Northern Colorado |
Sophomore |
| |
Shea Roberts |
Sacramento State |
Senior |
| Midfielders |
%Sam Monahan * |
Northern Arizona |
Senior |
| |
India Watne * |
Montana |
Sophomore |
| |
Megan Martin * |
Portland State |
Junior |
| |
JJ Wykstra |
Northern Colorado |
Junior |
| Forwards |
Erin Craig * |
Montana |
Junior |
| |
Jenna Samora |
Northern Arizona |
Senior |
| |
Ariel Cook |
Northern Colorado |
Senior |
| |
Jessie Baddley |
Weber State |
Senior |
*Unanimous Selection %Two-Time Selection #Three-Time Selection $Four-Time Selection
SECOND TEAM
| Position |
Name |
School |
Year |
| Goalkeeper |
Savannah Abercrombie |
Sacramento State |
Senior |
| Defenders |
Katie Tribbey |
Northern Arizona |
Senior |
| |
Esty Geiger |
Portland State |
Senior |
| |
Bailey Eames |
Weber State |
Sophomore |
| |
Roxanne Tebbs |
Weber State |
Senior |
| Midfielders |
Ashley Jones |
Idaho State |
Junior |
| |
Kimmie Feidler |
Northern Colorado |
Senior |
| |
Amanda Dutra |
Portland State |
Junior |
| |
Kendra Bailey |
Weber State |
Freshman |
| Forwards |
Whitney Brannan |
Eastern Washington |
Senior |
| |
Melissa Trammell |
Portland State |
Senior |
| |
Caitlin Pulver |
Sacramento State |
Senior |
Honorable Mention:
Goalkeepers – Jamie Walker, Eastern Washington; Lauren Weaver, Northern Arizona; Melissa Ferguson, Portland State; Ryann Waldman, Weber State
Defenders - Dashia Huff, Eastern Washington; Katie Cashman, Eastern Washington; Mikaela Carrillo, Idaho State; Laura Wayland, Northern Colorado; Carlie Martin, Portland State; Laura Bahno, Sacramento State; Mackenzie Day, Weber State
Midfielders - Lauren Jacobsen, Eastern Washington; Tyler Adair, Montana; Lauren McCreath, Montana; Sarah Tarver, Northern Arizona; Tara Rickenbach, Northern Colorado; Tish Wise, Portland State; Jessica Castan~o, Sacramento State; Jordan Carlberg, Sacramento State; Ryley Hansen, Weber State
Forwards - Amanda Ellsworth, Idaho State; Rachel Strawn, Idaho State; Brittany Dunn, Northern Colorado; Kala Renard, Portland State; Jordyn Rolling, Sacramento State; Felicia Sortor, Weber State