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Issued: December 13, 2006

SOCCER ANNOUNCES TEAM AWARD WINNERS

EAU CLAIRE – UW-Eau Claire soccer coach Sean Yengo recently announced the 2006 team award winners at its end-of-the-year banquet.

Forward/midfielder Maria Iaizzo (Sr.-White Bear Lake, MN) was named the team Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year. Iaizzo had one of the most prolific scoring seasons ever by a Blugold in 2006 scoring 46 points off 18 goals and 10 assists. Iaizzo trailed only Blugold All-American Kari Blascyzk who recorded 47 points and 20 goals in 2000 while Tammy Brandt and Lori Jensen have tallied more assists. Brandt recorded 17 assists in 1994 and Jensen had 11 assists in 1993. The 2006 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Player of the Year, Iaizzo was a first team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) first team All-Central and second team D3Kicks.Com All-Central Region selection.

Defender Becky Westbrock (Sr.-Oakdale, MN/North St. Paul) earned the team’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. A three-time All-WIAC selection, Westbrock earned first team NSCAA and D3Kickc.Com All-Central Region honors. In 2006 Westbrock became just the third Blugold in school history to earn All-American honors as he received second team D3Kicks.Com and third team NSCAA accolades this past season. Only Blascyzk in 2000 and Diane Kelsch in 1993 have earned All-American status as Blugolds.

Midfielder/forward Emily Meisinger (Sr.-Green Bay/Notre Dame Academy) was named team Playmaker of the Year and was the 2 v 2 champion. A three-time All-WIAC selection, Meisinger earned second team NSCAA All-Central Region honors in 2006. Meisinger also earned the WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award and received second team Academic All-District 5 honors.

Goalie Anne Scharenbroich (Jr.-White Bear Lake, MN) received the Practice Player of the Year Award. The Golden Shoe Award was presented to defender Abby Ofstedahl (Jr.-Apple Valley, MN/Eastview). Defender/midfielder Anna Talbot (Jr.-Apple Valley, MN/Eastview) was the team 1 v 1 champion.

The Most Improved Award went to midfielder Kristi Olson (So.-Minnetonka, MN). Midfielder Allison Muer (So.-Minneapolis, MN/South) was the team Long Range Shooting Champion.

The Alumni Freshman of the Year Award was presented to midfielder/forward Shannon Conlin (Fr.-Reedsburg). The Heading Challenge was won by defender Kristin Vanden Acker (Fr.-Appleton/West).

The Blugolds ranked in the top 13 national in several NCAA Division III final statistical standings including ninth in won-lost-tied percentage (0.885), 10th in goals against average (0.381), 11th in shutout percentage (0.69) and 13th in save percentage (0.891).

The Blugolds also broke two WIAC single season team records including wins (23) and shutouts (18).

The 2006 season saw the Blugolds advance to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Division III Post-Season Tournament where they lost to the eventual national champion Wheaton College (IL). The Sweet Sixteen is the farthest any Blugold soccer team has advanced in the NCAA Tournament. The Blugolds have now won back-to-back WIAC regular season and post-season tournament championships and earning automatic bids to the NCAA tournament both seasons.

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