ISU Wins Big with Conference Awards

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer team has won four out of five Missouri Valley Conference specialty awards and 11 all-conference accolades.

The Redbirds have taken home hardware for the MVC Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coaching Staff of the Year, along with three players on the All-MVC First Team, two on the Second Team, three Honorable Mentions, and three on the All-Freshman Team.

5. MVC Player of the Year
   Lauren Koehl, Senior, Forward, St. Charles, Ill.
   Koehl leads the conference in shots (89), points (35), and goals (14). She is also nationally ranked in game-winning goals (6, T-8^th), shots per game (4.68, T-12^th), total points (35, T-12^th) and total goals (14, T-15^th). The senior has played in 79 matches during her time at Illinois State and was an All-MVC First Team selection in 2015 as well. She was also an All-Freshman Team selection in 2012.
    
5. MVC Defensive Player of the Year
   Paige Jarsombeck, Senior, Defender, Tinley Park, Ill.
   Jarsombeck has been named MVC Defensive Player of the Week twice during the 2016 season and has scored one goal while tallying 11 shots. She was an All-MVC Second Team selection in 2015 and has played in 50 matches since transferring to Illinois State for her sophomore year from Creighton.
    
5. MVC Freshman of the Year
   Mikayla Unger, Freshman, Forward, Fort Wayne, Ind.
   Unger has tallied five goals, two assists, and 35 shots during her freshman campaign. The freshman has started 18 games and played in all 19 games this season for the Redbirds. She comes from Shattuck St. Mary's, where she was a two-year starter, scoring 16 goals and 11 assists. She was a two-time all-conference honoree and led her previous high school, R. Nelson Snider High School, in scoring during her sophomore season.
    
5. MVC Coaching Staff of the Year
   Eric Golz, Brad Silvey, Sarah Tompkins, Marisa Kresge
   Head coach Eric Golz is in his second season at the helm of the Redbirds, along with assistant coach Brad Silvey. Sarah Tompkins and Marisa Kresge are both in their debut seasons with the Redbirds. Together, this group of coaches has brought ISU back to its winning ways after finishing 6-10-2 overall and 3-3 in conference play last season, coming off a regular-season title and MVC Conference Championship in 2014. This season, the Redbirds have gone undefeated in conference play, winning the regular-season title and earned the top seed of the MVC Conference tournament. ISU finished the regular season 12-5-2 overall and 5-0-1 in conference play this year.

Members of the All-MVC First Team include Koehl, Jarsombeck, and junior midfielder Kelli Zickert. The Second-Team members include Unger and senior defender Sara Stankoskey. Senior midfielder Brooke Ksiazek, sophomore midfielder Kiley Czerwinski and freshman goalkeeper Haley Smith each earned Honorable Mentions. The All-Freshman Team includes Unger, midfielder Kate Del Fava and Smith.

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