ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Fifth-year senior Ashley Santos became the first women's soccer player in Missouri Valley Conference history to earn All-MVC honors in five different seasons after earning All-MVC First Team honors while fifth-year senior Natalie Vaughn-Low earned All-MVC Second Team honors and freshman Kasey Neidhardt earned All-MVC Freshman Team accolades, as announced by the conference office Thursday evening.
Santos, a native of Falls Church, Va., earned All-MVC First Team honors for the second time in her career, after being tabbed Honorable Mention twice (2019, 2018) and All-MVC Freshman Team in 2017. Santos broke program records for minutes played (7,421), matches played (90), and matches started (89), anchoring the Redbird backline and defensive midfield in the 2021 season.
Vaughn-Low, a native of DeKalb, Ill., was named All-MVC First Team after tallying five goals, good for tied for seventh in the conference. Vaughn-Low's 51 shots rank fourth in the MVC. Vaughn-Low was All-MVC Second Team in 2019, in addition to earning the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award in 2020-21.
Neidhardt, a native of Highland, Ill., earned her spot on the MVC All-Freshman Team after starting 13 matches and averaging 82 minutes per match over her 16 matches played during the 2020-21 spring campaign. Neidhardt primarily played outside back. Neidhardt was the primary corner kick taker for ISU, recording an assist against Indiana State on October 22.
For all latest on Illinois State soccer, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @Redbird_Soccer (Twitter, Facebook).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.