Wednesday, November 29, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With another season in the books, the GNAC continues to see individual standouts receive prestigious awards as 12 players were selected to the Division II United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Women’s Soccer Team.

Three players from both Concordia and Western Washington make up half of the West Region’s first-team selections. Four GNAC players, three of which were forwards, found themselves on the second team while two student-athletes were named to the region’s third team.

Concordia's first-team selections comprise of 2017 GNAC Player of the Year Gabrielle Ewing, 2017 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year senior Ana Delgadillo and sophomore goalkeeper Anna Miller. Western Washington, the 2017 GNAC champion, is represented on the first team by senior midfielder Emily Webster and junior forwards Gabriela Pelogi and Karli White.

Earning a spot on the second team were four GNAC individuals who were incumbent to their team’s success. Western Washington senior defender and reigning NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches) Division II Player of the Year, Sierra Shugarts, is joined by Simon Fraser sophomore forward Emma Pringle, Concordia forward junior Sydney Van Steenberge and Seattle Pacific junior forward Kasey Reeve.

Seattle Pacific junior defender Kaitlyn Willis and Simon Fraser junior midfielder Jenna-lee Baxter round out the All-West Region selections with spots on the third team.

Ewing took her game to another level this season as she led Concordia with 23 points (eight goals and seven assists). She was tied for second in the GNAC with five game-winning goals and led Concordia team to its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. On the defensive side of the ball, Delgadillo anchored a Cavaliers’ backline that proved hard for opponents to unlock. Playing in over 1,500 minutes this season, Delgadillo played a key role in Concordia’s 12 shutouts and added two goals and two assists to reinforce her value.

Miller rounds out Concordia’s representatives after a breakout season between the sticks. She ranked first in the GNAC with a .864 save percentage and allowed just nine goals including 10 shutouts in 18 appearances. Miller earned GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this season.

In her first season with the Vikings, White tied for third in the GNAC with 10 goals and was second in the league with eight assists. During the 2017 Division II West Regionals, White converted the second goal to give the Vikings a 2-0 win over No. 25 Sonoma State in the tournament’s second round.

Leading the league with 15 goals, Pelogi has been a goal-scoring machine up top, netting 36 goals over her three-year career. She started in all 20 games for the Vikings this season, adding six assists for a league-best 36 points.

Webster, a four-time all-GNAC selection, rounds out WWU’s first-team selections having played in all 20 contests this season. Along with her goal and six assists, her stability in the midfield aided a high-flying Vikings’ attack that netted a league-high 55 goals.

Nominated and voted for by coaches, the five GNAC first-team members will now be forwarded to the national ballot, which will be announced Friday, Dec.1.