Nov. 3, 2005
OMAHA, Neb. -
Just hours after being named as to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V Second Team, Illinois State's Heather Forsyth pulled in another top honor as the senior captain hauled in the Missouri Valley Conference's most coveted award--the 2005 league MVP. Forsyth was joined on the all-MVC First Team by fellow senior Joyce Kleinheinz and sophomore Yvonne Northover.
The awards didn't stop there for the team as three additional Redbirds were also recognized. Sophomore defender Amanda Lauber and junior goalkeeper Andrea Shaw represented ISU on the all-MVC Second Team. Mel Routledge, a freshman forward for the `Birds, was picked to the league's All-Freshman Team.
The All-Missouri Valley Conference team was honored at a banquet Thursday night in Omaha, Neb., prior to the semifinals and final of the 2005 State Farm MVC Women's Soccer Championship.
This was the second time in her Redbird career that Forsyth was named the league MVP. She was voted to the same award in 2003. The Burlington, Ontario native rebounded from an injury-plagued season last year to lead her team to a 3-2-1 Valley mark this season. She made a transition in 2004 to playing in the forward position and earns the MVP honor as a striker while her honor in '03 was for her defensive efforts.
Kleinheinz and Northover have also played key parts for the Redbirds this season. Kleinheinz, a senior from Libertyville, Ill., has netted three goals for the `Birds while tallying four assists for 10 total points. This is the first year that Kleinheinz has been named to the Valley First Team; in 2004, she was picked to the All-Tournament Team and in 2003, she was an all-Valley Second-Team pick. Northover, meanwhile, is fourth on the Illinois State team in points with 11. She has recorded four goals and three assists on the year. Continually giving a tireless effort, Northover has started all 18 games for the Redbirds.
Lauber and Shaw have had a major backfield presence for Illinois State in 2005. Lauber, who also returned this season after suffering a knee injury in '04, has played and started 17 of the `Bird's 18 games. She has tabbed one goal and two assists for ISU while playing stingy defense on the `Birds backline. Shaw, the team's reliable goalkeeper, has posted an impressive 7-3-1 record on the season and posted 60 total saves, while only allowing 12 goals. In conference matches, Shaw has tallied the most saves in her minutes played, giving her the highest save percentage in the Valley. Like Kleinheinz, Shaw was named to the 2004 Valley All-Tournament team and was also a first-team selection last year.
Routledge, just a freshman on the Redbird squad, leads the team with seven goals and four assists for 18 total points. Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Routledge has played in all 18 games, receiving 15 starting assignments.
The Valley's Defensive Player of the Year award went to Kate Hercules of Missouri State, while Evansville's Kayla Lambert was named as the Freshman of the Year. Drake head coach Corbin Stone was voted MVC coach of the year, his third-straight coach of the year honor.
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