Tuesday, November 15, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – With eyes on the NCAA West Regional final on Thursday, four Western Washington players lead a total of seven GNAC players selected to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Women’s Soccer All-West Region Team.

Junior forward Estera Levinte, freshman midfielder Morgan Manalili and senior midfielder Tera Ziemer all earned first-team selections for the Vikings while senior defender Karina Provo was elected to the second team. The four selections were the most of any West Region program.

Western Oregon junior defender Hannah Rispler was also named to the first team while two Northwest Nazarene forwards, junior Madison Grande and senior Ashley Parton, collected second-team honors.

All four Western Washington players were First Team All-GNAC selections and helped lead the Vikings to the GNAC regular-season title, GNAC championship and berth in the NCAA Championships. Estera and Manalili are currently tied for second in the GNAC with 20 points. Manalili, who was named the GNAC Freshman of the Year and Championships MVP, ranks fourth in the conference with eight goals. Levinte shares the conference lead with six assists and ranks fifth with seven goals.

Ziemer was one of eight repeat selections and moved up to the first team after receiving second-team honors in 2021. The mainstay of the WWU midfield, Ziemer currently has four goals and four assists on the season and is seventh in the GNAC with 37 shots.

Provo helped anchor a Western Washington that ranks third in Division II in shutout percentage and fifth in goals against average, having allowed just 10 goals in 21 matches. Provo has played in 20 matches and started 19 with one goal this season.

Rispler was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-GNAC after anchoring the Western Oregon backfield. A starter in 15 of the Wolves’ 18 matches, Rispler also contributed an assist while playing in nearly 1,300 minutes this season.

Both Parton and Grande were First Team All-GNAC selections for Northwest Nazarene with Patron being named the conference’s Player of the Year. Grande led the GNAC and ranks 45th in Division II with 11 goals while leading the conference with 20 points. Parton finished tied for second in the GNAC with eight goals and tied for fourth with 18 points as the duo helped lead the Nighthawks to an appearance in the GNAC Championships final.

Nominated by and voted upon by the region’s athletics communications professionals, the four first-team selections move on for consideration for the D2CCA Women’s Soccer All-America Team, which will be announced on November 30.