CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference announced its 2019 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 Matt Fannon was named MAC Coach of the Year for the third time in as many seasons, while BGSU senior Chelsee Washington was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. The hardware kept coming for the Falcons as junior Maureen Kennedy took home MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second conectuive season. Akron's Libby earned Freshman of the Year recognition.
Fannon is the first coach in MAC women's soccer history to be named MAC Coach of the Year in three consecutive seasons. Fannon has guided the Falcons to an overall record of 13-5-2, and a MAC record of 10-1-0. BGSU won the league regular-season title for the second consecutive season, and the Falcons' total of 10 conference wins tied the school record that was set last year. BG is the first team in MAC history to win 10 league matches in back-to-back seasons.
Washington has scored 20 points this year to date, including six goals and a team-leading eight assists. In MAC games, she tied for the team scoring lead, with 14 points in the 11 conference contests. Washington scored five goals and added four assists in MAC play. She has had a pair of game-winning goals this season, both coming in overtime, and scored the tying goal in the final minute of another contest.
Kennedy has 17 points on the year, with five goals and seven assists, and she has helped the BG defense record five shutouts. In MAC play, Kennedy – one of 10 national finalists for the Senior CLASS Award – had 12 points on three goals and a team-leading six assists. She has scored a pair of GWG, and saw another goal tie a match with just 19.3 seconds remaining in regulation, before BG won in overtime. Kennedy is second in school history with 31 assists, and she has 61 career points.
Haper becomes the first in Akron program history to earn Freshman of the Year honors. Harper went on to record a 7-8-2 overall record in 20 matches while making 17 starts. In 1,640 minutes of action between the posts, Harper made 63 saves, allowed just 18 goals, recorded a 0.99 goals-against average, and a .778 save percentage. The Zips keeper garnered four solo shutouts and helped post two additional combined clean sheets for a total of six on the season. In the MAC, Harper ranks second in GAA (0.99), seventh in total saves (63), and fourth in shutouts per game (.200).
In addition, the All-MAC First Team & Second Team was announced, as well as the All-Freshman squad.
The MAC Women's Soccer Championship continues Friday at Bowling Green's Cochrane Soccer Stadium as No. 1 Bowling Green takes on No. 4 Buffalo at 4 p.m. ET. No. 6 Ohio will face off against No. 7 Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. ET. The winners of Friday's semifinals will play for the MAC Championship on Sunday, November 10th at 1:00 p.m. ET (ESPN3)
2019 MAC Women’s Soccer Postseason Awards & All-MAC Teams
Coach of the Year: Matt Fannon, Bowling Green
Offensive Player of the Year: Chelsee Washington, Bowling Green, Senior, MF
Defensive Player of the Year: Maureen Kennedy, Bowling Green, Senior, D
Freshman of the Year: Libby Harper, Akron, GK
All-MAC First Team
Forward – Nikki Cox, Bowling Green
Forward – Sabrina McNeill, Eastern Michigan
Forward – Morgan Otteson, Western Michigan
Forward – Abby Townsend, Ohio
Midfielder – Vital Kats, Kent State
Midfielder – Chelsee Washington, Bowling Green
Midfielder – Alivia Milesky, Ohio
Midfielder – Nicky Potts, Ball State
Defender – Maureen Kennedy, Bowling Green
Defender – Gurjeena Jandu, Buffalo
Defender – Ashley Amato, Akron
Goalkeeper – Tristin Stuteville, Ball State
All-MAC Second Team
Forward – Kennedy White, Bowling Green
Forward – Sam Kambol, Ball State
Forward – Cameron Shedenhelm, Kent State
Midfielder – Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
Midfielder – Bailey Korhorn, Western Michigan
Midfielder – Amanda Cripps, Eastern Michigan
Defender – Emily Simmons, Ball State
Defender – Lindsey Shira, Eastern Michigan
Defender – Savannah Bosworth, Western Michigan
Defender – Audrey Shea, Bowling Green
Defender -- Victoria Breeden, Ohio
Goalkeeper – Kathleen Duwve, Bowling Green
All-Freshman Team
Libby Harper, Akron
Bailee Bowers, Akron
Kennedy White, Bowling Green
Audrey Shea, Bowling Green
Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Lauren DeBeau, Central Michigan
Cami Taylor, Central Michigan
Amanda Cripps, Eastern Michigan
Grace Wolber, Kent State
Bronwen Sears, Miami
Kennedy Gray, Miami
Maddie Young, Ohio
Stephanie Currie, Toledo
