MAC Announces Women's Soccer Postseason Awards
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced its 2017 women's soccer All-MAC teams, its Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year on Thursday, as voted by the league's head coaches.
Bowling Green’s Skylar Fleak earned the Offensive Player of the Year. The senior forward had one of the best offensive seasons in BGSU history. Against Buffalo, she posted her second hat trick of 2017 with three goals in 20:16, the fourth-fastest hat trick by a Falcon. She is second in the MAC in points and goals, and she ranks in the top 35 nationally for both. In her career, Fleak has 27 goals (third most at BGSU) and 64 points (fourth most at BGSU). Her efforts have earned three MAC Offensive Player of the Week awards in 2017.
Kent State’s Paige Culver grabbed Defensive Player of the Year honors. The junior had three assists during MAC play and helped the Flashes hold seven MAC opponents to shutouts.
Freshman of the Year was given to Kent State’s Vital Kats. The midfielder started all 11 conference games this season and had six goals and 15 points on the season.
Bowling Green’s first year head coach Matt Fannon was named Coach of the Year by his colleagues. Fannon led the Falcons to an overall record of 12-6-1 and conference record of 6-4-1 and first MAC Tournament appearance since 2008.
Along with Fleak and Culver, the All-MAC First Team included two other BGSU Falcons, Madison Schupbach and Erica Hubert. Ball State’s Julia Elvbo, Central Michigan’s Lexi Pelafas, Buffalo’s Julia Benati and Gurjeena Jandu, Kent State’s Sierra Henderson-Muschett, Toledo’s Isa Echeverri, and Western Michigan’s Stephanie Heber rounded out the first team.
Leading the second team with three members were the Golden Flashes Kristen Brots, Vital Kats, Jaime Eiben. Bowling Green’s Alexis Fricke, Buffalo’s Laura Dougall, Central Michigan’s Madison Pogarch, Eastern Michigan’s Peyton Davis, Miami’s Patricia Koutoulas, Northern Illinois’ Haley Hoppe, Ohio’s Allie Curry, Toledo’s Hannah Scafaria and Chiara Paradiso rounded out the second team, respectively.
Leading the way on the All-Freshman team was Freshman of the Year, Kats. Akron’s Amani Jiu, Ball State’s Nicky Potts, Bowling Green’s Nikhita Jacob, Buffalo’s Gianna Yurchak and Marcy Barberic, Eastern Michigan’s Madeline Olson, Kent State’s Isabelle Mihail, NIU’s Hoppe, Ohio Paige Knorr and Toledo’s Maddie Perrin all earned a spot for their strong rookie campaigns.
The MAC Women's Soccer Championship continues Friday with the Semifinals at Kent State University’s Dix Stadium. At 4:00 p.m., Toledo will take on Ball State and at 7:00 p.m., Bowling Green will play host, Kent State. The winners of Friday's semifinals will play for the MAC Championship on Sunday, November 5th at 1:00 p.m.
Championship Bracket
Championship Page
Offensive Player of the Year: Skylar Fleak, Bowling Green
Defensive Player of the Year: Paige Culver, Kent State
Freshman of the Year: Vital Kats, Kent State
Coach of the Year: Matt Fannon, Bowling Green
All-MAC First Team
Forward: Skylar Fleak, Bowling Green
Forward: Erica Hubert, Bowling Green
Forward: Lexi Pelafas, Central Michigan
Midfielder: Julia Elvbo, Ball State
Midfielder: Madison Schupbach, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Julia Benati, Buffalo
Midfielder: Isabella Echeverri, Toledo
Defender: Gurjeena Jandu, Buffalo
Defender: Paige Culver, Kent State
Defender: Sierra Henderson-Muschett, Kent State
Goalkeeper: Stephanie Heber, Western Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
Forward: Peyton Davis, Eastern Michigan
Forward: Allie Curry, Ohio
Forward: Hannah Scafaria, Toledo
Midfielder: Madison Pogarch, Central Michigan
Midfielder: Kristen Brots, Kent State
Midfielder: Vital Kats, Kent State
Defender: Alexis Fricke, Bowling Green
Defender: Jaime Eiben, Kent State
Defender: Haley Hoppe, Northern Illinois
Defender: Chiara Paradiso, Toledo
Goalkeeper: Laura Dougall, Buffalo
Goalkeeper: Patricia Koutoulas, Miami
All-Freshman Team
Amani Jiu, Akron
Nicky Potts, Ball State
Nikhita Jacob, Bowling Green
Gianna Yurchak, Buffalo
Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
Madeline Olson, Eastern Michigan
Vital Kats, Kent State
Isabelle Mihail, Kent State
Haley Hoppe, NIU
Paige Knorr, Ohio
Maddie Perrin, Toledo
