Three Seattle Pacific women’s soccer players were selected to the Daktronics All-America team for NCAA Division II competitors, including junior defender Taylor Sawyer who garnered national accolades for the third straight season.

Sawyer was named a second-team All-American. A graduate of North Mason (Wash.) High School, she received the 2011 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defender of the Year award in November. Sawyer was a second-team All-American last year after garnering honorable mention acclaim as a freshman in 2009.

She anchored the SPU defense that shutout 11 opponents and surrendered just 13 goals, an average of 0.65 per game.

The All-American trio helped the Falcons (17-3) win their third consecutive GNAC championship and qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament for the ninth straight season. SPU posted a 4-0 opening-round victory over Grand Canyon before losing 2-1 to Cal State L.A. in the West Region semifinal.

This marks the ninth straight season a Seattle Pacific women’s soccer player has received All-America acclaim.

The women’s soccer All-America team is sponsored for the sixth year by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The team was voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

2011 Daktronics Women’s Soccer All-America Team - NCAA Division II
(* repeat selection)

First Team
Pos., Name, School, Class, Ht., Hometown
GK, Julia Hansson, Bridgeport, So., 5-10, Tockfors, Sweden
D, Catherine Hauck*, Lenoir-Rhyne, Sr., 5-6, Lake Mary, Fla.
D, Marie Pettersson, Bridgeport, Sr., 5-7, Amal, Sweden
D, Megan Brown*, Grand Valley State, Sr., 5-6, Jenison, Mich.
D, Hanna Staley*, Midwestern State, Jr., 5-7, Austin, Texas
MF, Amanda Mason*, Northern Kentucky, Sr., 5-4, Cincinnati, Ohio
MF, Carley Work, California (Pa.), Jr., 5-5, Hopewell, Pa.
MF, Megan Woodworth, Colorado Mines, Jr., 5-7, Centennial, Colo.
MF, Christina Cuffari*, St. Rose, Sr., 5-6, Brick, N.J.
F, Ashley Botts, Grand Valley State, Jr., 5-6, Beloit, Wis.
F, Chloe Roberts**, North Alabama, Jr., 5-5, Plymouth, England
F, Carmelina Puopolo, St. Rose, So., 5-5, Scarborough, Ontario
F, Ashley Alderin-Fleagle, Limestone, Sr., 5-7, Kernersville, N.C.

Second Team
GK, Chelsea Parise, Grand Valley State, Jr., 5-9, Warren, Mich.
D, Taylor Sawyer*, Seattle Pacific, Jr., 5-5, Gig Harbor, Wash.
D, Hayley Johnson, UC-San Diego, Jr., 5-7, Santa Rosa, Calif.
D, Kelli Bahr*, Armstrong Atlantic State, Sr., 5-10, Middleton, Wis.
D, Sam Andert, Quincy, Jr., 5-9, St. Peters, Mo.
MF, Alyssa Rhodes, Central Missouri, Sr., 5-9, Olathe, Kan.
MF, Nikki Brown**, North Alabama, Jr., 5-9, Bognor Regis, England
MF, Erin Mruz**, Grand Valley State, Sr., 5-6, Gurnee, Ill.
MF, Kelly Adams, Wingate, Sr., 5-5, Matthews, N.C.
F, Karenee Demery*, Cal State-Stanislaus, So., 5-3, Merced, Calif.
F, Kayla Addison*, Grand Valley State, Jr., 5-6, Southfield, Mich.
F, Andrea Carpenter*, Abilene Christian, So., 5-4, Amarillo, Texas
F, Breeanna Robinson, California (Pa.), Sr., 5-6, East Hampstead, N.H.

Third Team
GK, Kristin Armstrong, UC-San Diego, Sr., 5-8, Anaheim, Calif.
D, Alison Cahill, Regis, So., 5-4, Boise, Idaho
D, Meagan McKinney, St. Rose, Jr., 5-8, Kennewick, Wash.
D, Kayla Klimasko*, California (Pa.), Sr., 5-7, Mississauga, Ontario
D, Kelsey Neal, Colorado Mines, So., 5-6, Los Alamos, N.M.
MF, Alyssa Mira, Grand Valley State, Jr., 5-6, Livonia, Mich.
MF, Kelsey Jenkins, Seattle Pacific, Sr., 5-8, Kent, Wash.
MF, Katie Stanley, Bridgeport, Sr., 5-6, Oxford, England
MF, Sydney Bond, St. Rose, So., 5-7, Deer Park, N.Y.
F, Julissa Rodriguez, New Mexico Highlands, Sr., 5-5, Kennewick, Wash.
F, Lauren Riiff, Chestnut Hill, Sr., 5-6, Clementon, N.J.
F, Kasey Kenny, Bridgeport, Sr., 5-4, Staten Island, N.Y.
F, Jordan Miller*, Regis, Sr., 5-9, Santa Fe, N.M.

Honorable Mention
GK, Anna Belpedio*, Winona State, Sr., 5-7, Coon Rapids, Minn.
D, Kansas Bayly, Columbus State, So., 5-5, Lilburn, Ga.
D, Reegan Lloyd, Minnesota-Duluth, Sr., 5-8, Woodbury, Minn.
D, Lyndsey Womack, Abilene Christian, Gr., 5-3, Longview, Texas
D, Emer Flatley, Slippery Rock, Jr., 5-7, Galway, Ireland
D, Kristen Orrett, California (Pa.), Sr., 5-6, Pickering, Ontario
MF, Maria Borland, Kutztown, Jr., 5-3, Hagerstown, Md.
MF, Stephanie Lowery*, Columbus State, Sr., 5-6, Sandy, Utah
F, Megan Lindsay, Seattle Pacific, Jr., 5-7, Spokane, Wash.
F, Jennifer Osmond, North Alabama, So., 5-8, Southampton, England

 

WPFC Alumna and Seattle Pacific University (SPU) sophomore defender Taylor Sawyer garnered second-team recognition on the NCAA Division II women’s soccer All-America squad that was sponsored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Sawyer overcame an early season injury to anchor the stingy SPU defense that recorded 11 shutouts. She helped the Falcons limit opposing offenses to just 0.48 goals per game. Sawyer advanced forward to score two goals on just three shot attempts.

A graduate of North Mason (Wash.) High School, Sawyer is one of the nation’s premier defenders. She was an honorable mention

Daktronics All-America pick as a freshman in 2009 and has twice been honored as a first-team All-West Region player by the NSCAA. 

The All-American duo led the Falcons to a 16-2-2 record and their second straight conference championship. They participated in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight season, advancing to the Sweet 16.

This marks the eighth straight season a Seattle Pacific player has received All-America acclaim. The Falcons won the 2008 NCAA championship led by first-team All-American Meredith Teague, who received the National Player of the Year award. Forward Jocelyn Charette was a second-team selection last season.

2010 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer All-America Team

First Team
GK, Anna Belpedio, Jr., Winona State, Coon Rapids, MI
D, Lisa Bradley, Sr., UC San Diego, Martinez, CA
D, Kelly Guerin*, Sr., Saint Rose, Sutton, MA
D, Jenna Wenglinski, Sr., Grand Valley State, Portage, MI
D, Katie Whiting**, Sr., Saint Rose, Holden, MA
M, Kendra Clemons, Sr., Midwestern State, Odessa, TX
M, Amanda Deck**, Sr., Saint Rose, Syracuse, NY
M, Catherine Hauck, Jr., Lenoir-Rhyne, Lake Mary, FL
M, Erin Mruz*, Jr., Grand Valley State, Gurnee, IL
F, Ashley Botts, So., Grand Valley State, Beloit, WI
F, Shakira Duncan*, Sr., West Florida, Kingston, Jamaica
F, Sarah Oswald**, Sr., West Chester, MaCungie, PA
F, Jodi-Ann Robinson, So., West Florida, Richmond, B.C.

Second Team
GK, Kristin Armstrong, Jr., UC San Diego, Anaheim, CA
GK, Chelsea Parise, So., Grand Valley State, Warren, MI
D, Maria Leider, Sr., Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, MI
D, Taylor Sawyer, So., Seattle Pacific, Gig Harbor, WA
D, Abigail Schuhmann*, Jr., Bellarmine, Louisville, KY
D, Casey Smith*, Sr., North Ga. College and State, Stockbridge, GA
M, Danielle DeLuca, Sr., C.W. Post, Islip, NY
M, Stephanie Lowery, Jr., Columbus State, Sandy, UT
M, Amanda Mason, Jr., Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, OH
M, Alyssa Rhodes, Jr., Central Missouri, Olathe, Kan.
F, Liz Franco, Sr., Cal State L.A., Oceanside, CA
F, Hayley Hollenga, Jr., Fort Lewis, Colorado Springs, CO
F, Megan Lindsay, So., Seattle Pacific, Spokane, WA
F, Linda Velaj, Sr., Bridgeport, Stamford, CT

Third Team
GK, Lyndsie Bernardini*, So., West Chester, Elmer, NJ
GK, Deanna Esposito, Sr., Saint Rose, Sayville, NY
D, Kelly Boyd, Sr., St. Edward’s, Round Rock, TX
D, Chelsea Deeter, Sr., Kutztown, Langhorne, PA
D, Cindi Nickles, Sr., West Chester, Baltimore, MD
M, Christina Cuffari, Jr., Saint Rose, Brick, NJ
M, Becky Fleming**, Sr., Quincy, St. Louis, MO
M, Morgan Gruenenfelder*, Sr., Carson-Newman, Sweetwater, TN
M, Elizabeth Hawes, So., Lenoir-Rhyne, Valdese, NC
M, Paula Lillsjo, Jr., Florida Institute of Technology, Helsingborg, Sweden
F, Janae Averett, Sr., St. Edward’s, Round Rock, Texas
F, Shannon Becker, Jr., Wisconsin-Parkside, DePere, WI
F, Chloe Roberts, So., North Alabama, Plymouth, England
F, Julissa Rodriguez, Jr., New Mexico Highlands, Kennewick, WA 

 

WPFC Alumna and Seattle Pacific University defender Taylor Sawyer was one of only seven players to be honored as a 2009 Daktronics All-American as a freshman. Sawyer was the rock of the SPU Women’s team.  SPU Coach Chuck Sekyra on Sawyer, "We feel that Taylor Sawyer is the best defender in the state of Washington.  She is one of the most competitive players that we have ever watched.   Whether she is playing for her state championship Washington Premier club team or our state ODP team, Taylor makes it difficult for her opponents not only to score, but to even get chances." SPU Teammate and fellow WPFC Alum, Jocelyn Charette was also selected as a honorable mention.

2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer All-America First Team
GK, Lyndsie Bernardini West Chester Fr. 5-10 Elmer, NJ
F, Kristin Burton*** Armstrong Atlantic State Sr. 5-8 Ocala, FL
F, Shakira Duncan# West Florida Jr. 5-5 Kingston, Jamaica
F, Shaneka Gordon* West Florida Sr. 5-7 Old Harbour, Jamaica
F, Kayla Mitchell Colorado Mines Sr. 5-3 Ontario, OR
MF, Gabriela Demoner** Franklin Pierce Sr. 5-6 Vitoria, Brazil
MF, Elizabeth Hawes Lenoir-Rhyne Fr. 5-7 Valdese, N.C.
MF, Marcelo Franco* West Florida Sr. 5-5 Sao Paulo, Brazil
MF, Dernelle Mascall West Florida Sr. 5-8 Basse Terre, Trinidad
D, Megan Brown Grand Valley State So. 5-6 Jenison, MI
D, Shameka Gordon* West Florida Sr. 5-5 Old Harbour, Jamaica
D, Courtney Ryan Metropolitan State So. 5-3 Chula Vista, CA
D, Natalja Stanski* Grand Valley State Sr. 5-8 Tecumseh, Ontario

2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer All-America Second Team
GK, Courtney Jones** West Florida Sr. 5-7 Panama City, FL
F, Angelika Johansson* Franklin Pierce Jr. 5-4 Falkenberg, Sweden
F, Becca Mays*** Metropolitan State Sr. 5-8 San Antonio, TX
F, Chloe Roberts North Alabama Fr. 5-5 Plymouth, England
F, Lauren Strudivant Winona State Jr. 5-4 Eagan, MN
MF, Nikki Brown North Alabama Fr. 5-9 Bognor Regis, England
MF, Clare Dahmen Minnesota-Duluth Sr. 5-5 Hopkins, MN
MF, Lindsay McHorse West Texas A&M So. 5-4 Georgetown, TX
MF, Margaret Porter Dominican (N.Y.) Jr. 5-3 Neptune, NJ
D, Jenna Arnold West Chester Jr. 5-7 Winslow, NJ
D, Kelly Guerin St. Rose Jr. 5-8 Sutton, MA
D, Kaley Morris West Florida Sr. 5-6 Gulf Breeze, FL
D, Meagan Thomas Rollins Jr. 5-6 Ponte Vedra, FL
 
2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer All-America Third Team
GK, Hannah Bengtson Minnesota-Duluth Jr. 5-11 Lino Lakes, MN
F, Nicole Baier Nebraska-Omaha Fr. 5-8 Omaha, NE
F, Kara Houston Wheeling Jesuit Jr. 5-5 Washington, PA
F, Liz Franco Cal. State-Los Angeles Jr. 5-8 Oceanside, CA
F, Kelly Lyons Georgian Court So. 5-6 Jackson, NJ
MF, Jamie MacArthur Fort Lewis Sr. 5-5 Albuquerque, NM
MF, Erin Mruz Grand Valley State So. 5-6 Gurnee, IL
MF, Vickie Rich Lees-McRae So. 5-2 Arlington Heights, IL
MF, Emma Woolley Bridgeport Sr. 5-4 Sheffield, England
D, Kathryn Gosztyla Metropolitan State Sr. 5-7 Orangevale, CA
D, Alli Miller Central Oklahoma Sr. 5-1 Norman, OK.
D, Cindi Nickels West Chester Jr. 5-9 Baltimore, MD
D, Rachel Smith*** Franklin Pierce Sr. 5-9 Chichester, NH
* first team selection from 2008
** second team selection from 2008
*** third team selection from 2008

2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer All-America Honorable Mention
GK, Jamie Gillis Massachusetts-Lowell Sr. 5-9 North Billerica, MA
GK, Kelly Skehan West Texas A&M Jr. 5-7 Klein, TX
F, Jenna Boyko Quincy Sr. 5-6 St. Charles, MO
F, Jocelyn Charette Seattle Pacific Sr. 5-10 Lakewood, WA
F, Irie Dennis Grand Valley State Sr. 5-5 New Albany, OX
F, Hannah Dozier Texas-Permian Basin So. 5-6 Midland, TX
F, Laura Leber Minnesota State-Mankato Jr. 5-3 Council Bluffs, IA
MF, Rachel Jakubowski Rollins Sr. 5-8 Winter Park, FL
MF, Amanda Matthews Cal. State-Los Angeles Sr. 5-2 San Jose, CA
MF, Morgan Mitchell Armstrong Atlantic State Fr. 5-9 Lilburn, GA
MF, Meredith Novak Wisconsin-Parkside Sr. 5-5 Batavia, IL
MF, Gina Paletta Minnesota State-Mankato Sr. 5-7 Omaha, NE
D, Lindsay Catton Sonoma State Sr. 5-8 Rohnert Park, CA
D, Melissa Morris Carson-Newman Jr. 5-5 Sweetwater, TN
D, Caitlin Mullady C.W. Post Sr. 5-4 Hauppauge, NY
D, Paige Peel Cal. State-Dominguez Hills So. 5-7 Bakersfield, CA
D, Taylor Sawyer Seattle Pacific Fr. 5-5 Gig Harbor, WA