2019 #BigSkySoccer All-Conference Team Announced
FARMINGTON, Utah (November 1, 2019) – The 2019 Big Sky Women’s Soccer All-Conference Team and individual award winners were released Friday with 40 student-athletes earning recognition as voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches. Coaches could not vote for their own players.
Sacramento State junior forward Kylee Kim-Bustillos garnered Big Sky Offensive MVP honors after leading the league with 21 points and nine goals this season. Kim-Bustillos was the lone player on the All-Big Sky First Team to earn the honor for the second time in their career (2017). She is the first player since Katie McCoy in 2007 to capture offensive MVP accolades for the Hornets.
There was a four-way tie for Big Sky Defensive MVP with Northern Colorado junior Maddie Barkow, Eastern Washington junior Taylor Matheny, Sacramento State senior Mikayla Reed and Montana sophomore Caitlin Rogers earning the honor.
It is the first time in league history more than two players have been named defensive MVP. Barkow, Matheny and Reed were first team selections while Rogers was a second team pick. All four were part of defensive units that recorded less than a 1.00 goals against average in conference play.
Sacramento State junior Aaliyah Fesili was named the Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year and an All-Big Sky First Team honoree. After redshirting the 2018 season due to injury, Fesili made her return by leading the Big Sky with a 0.61 goals against average and .888 save percentage. She also posted a league-best 10 clean sheets, sitting one shy of the Big Sky single-season record. Fesili is the first Hornet to garner Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
Southern Utah senior forward MaKenzie Lawrence concluded her career by being named All-Big Sky First Team and the Golden Boot winner for recording the most points in Big Sky play with 11. She also tied for the conference lead with four goals. Lawrence is the first Thunderbird to win a Big Sky individual award in soccer.
Rounding out the individual awards was Eastern Washington freshman midfielder Madison Kem who was named Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. Kem was the lone freshman on the first and second teams with her All-Big Sky First Team nod as she started in all 18 matches for the Eagles. Kem is just the second Eagle to garner newcomer of the year honors, joining Jessica Blessard (2007).
Sacramento State led the league with four first team honorees followed by Eastern Washington’s three selections and Montana’s two.
In all, Montana, Northern Colorado and Sacramento State totaled seven all-conference selections while Eastern Washington had six.
The 2019 Big Sky Championship kicks off Wednesday at Northern Colorado’s Jackson Stadium in Greeley. Tickets are available by calling 970-351-4849 or by visiting tickets.unco.edu.
To stay up-to-date with the Big Sky Conference, follow us on Facebook at /BigSkyConf and @BigSkyConf on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. Fans can also follow Big Sky soccer on Twitter @BigSky_Soccer.
| 2019 Big Sky Women's Soccer All-Conference Team |
|
| FIRST TEAM |
| Position |
Name |
School |
Class |
| Goalkeeper |
Aaliyah Fesili |
Sacramento State |
Junior |
| Defender |
Mikayla Reed |
Sacramento State |
Senior |
| Defender |
Taylor Hansen |
Montana |
Junior |
| Defender |
Haley Thomas |
Weber State |
Junior |
| Defender |
Taylor Matheny |
Eastern Washington |
Junior |
| Defender |
Taylor Brust |
Idaho |
Junior |
| Defender |
Maddie Barkow |
Northern Colorado |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Madison Kem |
Eastern Washington |
Freshman |
| Midfielder |
Jazmin Lopez |
Idaho State |
Senior |
| Midfielder |
Ariana Nino |
Sacramento State |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Avery Adams |
Montana |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Carly George |
Northern Arizona |
Senior |
| Forward |
Kylee Kim-Bustillos% |
Sacramento State |
Junior |
| Forward |
MaKenzie Lawrence |
Southern Utah |
Senior |
| Forward |
Sariah Keister |
Eastern Washington |
Junior |
| % - Two-time All-Big Sky First Team selection |
|
| SECOND TEAM |
| Position |
Name |
School |
Class |
| Goalkeeper |
Claire Howard |
Montana |
Junior |
| Defender |
Madison Montgomery |
Northern Arizona |
Sophomore |
| Defender |
Lindsi Jennings |
Northern Colorado |
Sophomore |
| Defender |
McKaley Goffard |
Eastern Washington |
Junior |
| Defender |
Caitlin Rogers |
Montana |
Sophomore |
| Midfielder |
Mya Elder-Hammond |
Eastern Washington |
Sophomore |
| Midfielder |
Olivia Seddon |
Northern Colorado |
Senior |
| Midfielder |
Sofi Papastamos |
Portland State |
Sophomore |
| Midfielder |
Julia Herrera |
Sacramento State |
Junior |
| Forward |
Paige Maling |
Northern Arizona |
Junior |
| Forward |
Alexa Coyle |
Montana |
Junior |
| Forward |
Lexi Pulley |
Northern Colorado |
Sophomore |
|
|
|
|
| HONORABLE MENTION |
| Position |
Name |
School |
Class |
| Defender |
Allie Larsen |
Montana |
Freshman |
| Defender |
Aubrey Goodwill |
Sacramento State |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Hadley Sbrega |
Idaho |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Kenzie Engelkins |
Northern Colorado |
Senior |
| Midfielder |
Cara Quinn |
Northern Colorado |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Tea Poore |
Portland State |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Samantha Craig |
Sacramento State |
Junior |
| Midfielder |
Sadie Noble |
Weber State |
Freshman |
| Midfielder |
Taylor Scadlock |
Weber State |
Sophomore |
| Forward |
Brooke Dunbar |
Eastern Washington |
Senior |
| Forward |
Rita Lang |
Montana |
Sophomore |
| Forward |
Taylor Bray |
Northern Colorado |
Junior |
| Forward |
Mylee Broad |
Weber State |
Junior |
2019 Big Sky Individual Award Winners
Offensive MVP – Kylee Kim-Bustillos, Sacramento State
Defensive MVP – Maddie Barkow, Northern Colorado; Taylor Matheny, Eastern Washington; Mikayla Reed, Sacramento State; Caitlin Rogers, Montana
Goalkeeper of the Year – Aaliyah Fesili, Sacramento State
Golden Boot – MaKenzie Lawrence, Southern Utah
Newcomer of the Year – Madison Kem, Eastern Washington