The Illinois State women's soccer team hosted their annual end-of-the-year banquet to celebrate the 2018 season on Saturday night. Former manager and recent graduate Matt Tobolt emcee'd the event that recognized the senior class and the many accolades accumulated by the team over the 2018 campaign.
Head coach Brad Silvey bestowed redshirt freshman Sarah Ochitwa with the 2018 Julie K. Heidecke Tribute Award, awarded annually in honor of former Redbird soccer player Julie Heidecke.
On April 29, 1998, Illinois State soccer player Julie Heidecke was involved in an automobile accident that tragically ended her life. In her one season with the Redbirds, Heidecke's personality and demeanor inspired teammates and coaches. As a result, former head coach Pete Kowall, the Julie Heidecke Foundation and ISU Athletics established an award in her memory to recognize a Redbird soccer player following Heidecke's path in commitment, spirit, determination, leadership, sportsmanship, academics, morality and concern for others. Additionally, the Julie Heidecke Tribute Tree was planted in her honor at the entrance of Adelaide Street Field.
2018 Individual Accomplishments
Shaina Dudas // Fr. // F // Lisle, Ill.
- MVC All-Freshman Team
- MVC Newcomer of the Week (Oct. 29)
Logan Ziegler // Fr. // MF // Burlington, Iowa
- MVC Newcomer of the Week (Oct. 15)
Ashley Santos // So. // MF // Naperville, Ill.
- All-MVC Honorable Mention
Megan McEachern // Jr. // D // Batavia, Ill.
- MVC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 17)
Haley Smith // Jr. // GK // Fall River, Nova Scotia
- MVC Defensive Player (Aug. 20, Sept. 10)
Mikayla Unger // Jr. // F // Fort Wayne, Ind.
- All-MVC Honorable Mention
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team Honorable Mention
- MVC Player of the Week (Oct. 15)
Abby Basler // RS-So. // MF // St. Louis, Mo.
- All-MVC First Team
- MVC All-Tournament Team
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team Honorable Mention
- MVC Player of the Week (Oct. 22)
Kate Del Fava // Jr. // MF // Kenosha, Wis.
- All-MVC First Team
- MVC State Farm Good Neighbor Award
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
- CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District First Team
- CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-America Second Team
Kiley Czerwinski // Sr. // MF // Naperville, Ill.
- All-MVCÂ Second Team
- MVC Scholar-Athlete Team Honorable Mention
For all the latest on Illinois State soccer, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @Redbird_Soccer (Twitter, Facebook).
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