CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced its 2024 women's soccer All-MAC teams, its Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year on Tuesday, as voted by the league's head coaches.
Western Michigan’s Lewis Robinson was named MAC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row, while Western Michigan’s Jen Blitchok was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Ohio’s Norah Roush took home Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Buffalo’s Lexie Thompson picked up Goalkeeper of the Year recognition. Kent State’s Jules Dolinski rounded out the Speciality Awards by being named the Freshman of the Year.
In just his third season as the head coach of Western Michigan, Lewis Robinson has built the program into a MAC power. The Broncos have gone undefeated in MAC play the last two seasons, becoming the first team in MAC women's soccer history to accomplish that feat. Along with that have been back-to-back MAC Championships, which are the first two regular season titles in program history. Robinson and the rest of the WMU coaching staff helped the team win the league by seven points this season, which is the MAC's largest margin since 2009. WMU was by far and away the best overall team, finishing the year with 26 goals for and only 7 goals against in 11 MAC games.
Western Michigan graduate student Jen Blitchok put together one of the best seasons in MAC history, totaling 23 points on eight goals and seven assists in 11 conference games. She tallied a point in all but three games in MAC play, including a pair of hat tricks against Miami and Ball State. Blitchok's 23 points were the most in conference play since Kidal Vats in 2019. For the entire season, the Grandville, Mich. native has 38 points on 15 goals and eight assists. She has shattered the program record for goals and points in a single-season and sits just four goals and seven points shy of MAC records. Though she has only played at WMU for two seasons, she is knocking on the door of some program career records. Over the last two years, she has produced 62 points on 24 goals and 14 assists. She is four goals and six points shy of career program records.
Thompson is just the second Bull in program history to earn Goalkeeper of the Year honors and receives All-MAC First Team recognition for the first time in her young UB career. The Levittown, NY native has put together an impressive resume on the season as she leads the MAC and ranks in the top 10 in the nation in shutouts (11), goals against average (0.44) and save percentage (.890), while also recording 65 saves. Her 11 shutouts rank third in a single-season in program history and her .44 goals against average is second-best in a single-season. With Thompson between the pipes, the UB backline has been a dominant force as they lead the league and rank in the top 15 nationally in goals against average (.44) save percentage (.895) and shutout percentage (.611).
Dolinski made an instant impact for Head Coach Rob Marinaro’s squad, starting 16 games up front during her freshman season. Dolinski netted two goals for the Flashes this year, including a go-ahead goal against Central Michigan. She also added two assists during her freshman campaign, both coming in the 2-2 draw at Buffalo. Dolinski was second on the team in assists (3), shots (37), and shots on goal (18).
The MAC Women's Soccer Championship semifinals will take place on Thursday as No. 2 Buffalo takes on No. 3 Ohio at 11 am ET (ESPN+) before No. 1 Western Michigan and No. 4 Kent State face off at 2:30 pm ET (ESPN+). The Championship match is set for Sunday, Nov. 10 at 1 pm ET. The winner will take home the MAC title and will earn a spot in the upcoming NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.
In addition, the All-MAC First Team & Second Team was announced, as well as the All-Freshman squad.
2024 MAC Women's Soccer Postseason Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Lewis Robinson, Western Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year: Norah Roush, Ohio
Goalkeeper of the Year: Lexie Thompson, Buffalo
Freshman of the Year: Jules Dolinski, Kent State
All-MAC First Team
Forward: Addie Chester, Ball State
Forward: Jaimason Brooker, Ohio
Forward: Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan
Forward: Taylor Hamlett, Miami
Midfielder: Eve Berish, Ohio
Midfielder: Lexi Czerwien, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Madi Canada, Western Michigan
Defender: Frederique St.-Jean, Buffalo
Defender: Heidi Thomasma, Western Michigan
Defender: Norah Roush, Ohio
Goalkeeper: Lexie Thompson, Buffalo
All-MAC Second Team
Forward: Abby Werthman, Western Michigan
Forward: Alisa Arthur, Kent State
Forward: Tyra King, Northern Illinois
Midfielder: Claudia Muessig, Central Michigan
Midfielder: Emme Butera, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Kaya Schultz, Buffalo
Midfielder: Siena Stambolich, Kent State
Defender: Ellie Simmons, Buffalo
Defender: Jamie Hlebec, Miami
Defender: Maia Kaufman, Ohio
Goalkeeper: Celeste Sloma, Ohio
All-Freshman Team
Ali Weibel, Kent State
Allison Collins, Kent State
Carolyn Hinkle, Buffalo
Gabby Anulare, Toledo
Haley Wolf, Bowling Green
Jules Dolinksi, Kent State
Julianna Hill, Northern Illinois
June Mullen, Western Michigan
Katie Henahan, Kent State
Maris Jennings, Miami
Payton O’Malley, Bowling Green
