Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams Announced
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Northwest’s Acacia Johnson and Concordia’s Jasmin Ayala have been selected as the women’s soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year respectively, the conference office announced.
Johnson, a 5-foot-1 senior forward from Puyallup, Wash., was an offensive powerhouse for Northwest, leading her team to a first place finish in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings. Johnson finished the season leading the CCC in goals with 17 and in points with 36.
Ayala helped the Cavaliers finish the season with one the best defenses in the conference. The 5-foot-2 senior defender from Simi Valley, Calif., started 15 games for Concordia who led the CCC in fewest goals allowed (9) and shutouts (10).
College of Idaho’s Katelyn Benavidez has been named the conference Newcomer of the Year, becoming the fifth freshman in a row to earn the honors. The 5-foot-9 midfielder from Saugus, Calif., led her team in goals scored with six and recorded three assists on the year.
Head coaches Vallan Seid of Northwest University and Holly Popenuk of Warner Pacific have been named Co-Coaches of the Year.
In his second season as head coach, Seid led the Eagles to a first place finish in the CCC standings and an overall record of 11-5-2, 8-0-1 in CCC play. In two seasons as coach, Seid has a combined overall record of 21-12-4.
After finishing 3-8-1 in her first season, Popenuk turned around a struggling Warner Pacific team ending her second season with a 7-7-2 record overall. Popenuk led the Knights to a fifth place finish and a playoff berth.
Complete post-season honors to follow…
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Acacia Johnson, Sr., F, Northwest
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jasmin Ayala, Sr., Concordia
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Katelyn Benavidez, Fr., MF, College of Idaho
CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR: Vallan Seid, Northwest (2nd season); Holly Popenuk, Warner Pacific (2nd season)
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name Institution Cl. Hometown
GK Patty Hughes Northwest Sr. Kalispell, Mont.
GK Rebekah Matteri Oregon Tech Sr. Arcata, Calif.
GK Kaitlyn Mendenhall Corban Sr. Windsor, Calif.
D Jasmin Ayala Concordia Sr. Simi Valley, Calif.
D Danielle Buechley Corban Sr. Roseburg, Ore.
D Samantha Porter Northwest Jr. Gresham, Ore.
D Kelsey Greene Northwest Jr. Sherwood, Ore.
MF Summer Jackson College of Idaho So. Boise, Idaho
MF McKayla Madison Concordia Jr. Bend, Ore.
MF Annika Hayman Concordia Sr. Redmond, Wash.
MF Ashley Valencia Warner Pacific Sr. Gresham, Ore.
F Acacia Johnson Northwest Sr. Puyallup, Wash.
F Alicia Kolter Concordia Sr. Redondo Beach, Calif.
F Erin Huisingh Concordia Sr. Pasco, Wash.
SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name Institution Cl. Hometown
D Kaeliana DeVera Eastern Oregon Jr. Washougal, Wash.
D Olivia Erskine Corban So. Chehalis, Wash.
D Paige Kilpatrick Southern Oregon Sr. Murrieta, Calif.
D Elle’ Nelson Warner Pacific Jr. Missoula, Mont.
MF Katelyn Benavidez College of Idaho So. Saugus, Calif.
MF Sydney Woods College of Idaho Jr. Meridian, Idaho.
MF Janelle Richards Northwest Christian Jr. Vacaville, Calif.
MF Annie-Brynn Stauffer Northwest Sr. Spokane, Wash.
MF Allyson Ward Southern Oregon Jr. Santa, Rosa, Calif.
F Jamiece Yizar College of Idaho So. Pocatello, Idaho.
F Randi Donahue Corban Jr. Bellingham, Wash.
F Vanessa Zamora Evergreen So. Vancouver, Wash.
F Megan McArthur Southern Oregon Jr. Boise, Idaho
F Crystal Foster Warner Pacific Jr. Redmond, Ore.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Concordia
Becca Long, D, Sr.
Ariel Kanable, Mr, Jr.
Corban
Sadee Kallis, F, Fr.
Katelyn Fekkes, F, Jr.
Eastern Oregon
Makensie Forsyth, MF, Fr.
Evergreen
Loren Switzer, D, So.
Kenzie Phillips, MF, So.
Amy Bromley, F, Fr.
Northwest
Tatyana Reveles, MF, Jr.
Tiffany Taylor, MF, So.
Northwest Christian
Linsey Johnson, D, Sr.
Stevie Harrison, F, Sr.
Oregon Tech
Bailey Tehan, D, Jr.
Amanda Hisey, F, Fr
Tarryn Miyamura, F, So.
Southern Oregon
Presley Lambert, MF, So.