The Western Athletic Conference announced the 2015 women’s soccer postseason award winners as selected by the league’s eight head coaches, with two UMKC women’s soccer players named to the first-team, and two earning second-team honors.
Junior midfielder Emily Herndon and senior defender Erika Teson earned first-team All-WAC honors, while two freshmen, forward Lexie Howard and defender Emily Talmon, each garnered second-team All-WAC honors.
With the first-team nod, Herndon earned the honor for the second time in her career, having been named to the 2014 All-WAC first-team as well. She has played all-19 games this season, and has scored three goals and added an assist for the ‘Roos. With her three goals this season, Herndon has made her way up the UMKC records, and currently sits in second-place all-time with 14 career goals.
“I am so honored to have received first-team All-WAC honors,” Herndon said. “I couldn’t have done it without the help from my teammates and coaches. We are here at the conference tournament because of a team effort and I’m proud of our team for working so hard all season. Now we are ready to play hard and take home a WAC championship.”
Teson earned her first-career all-league selection, after having been named to the 2015 preseason All-WAC team. Teson has been a major force for the ‘Roos back line this season, allowing just 14 goals in the first 19 games, a current program-best number. Teson has started in 67-straight games dating back to her freshman season, and is tied for second in the UMKC women’s soccer record books with 80 games played.
“It is an honor to be named first-team all-conference,” Teson said. “No matter what though, our team as a whole determines our success and my success as an individual. Without them I wouldn’t be worth a dime. Alone we can do so little, but together we can do it all.”
Howard led the WAC with 11 goals on the season, including seven in conference play. Her conference goal total is tied for second behind WAC Freshman of the Year Aminah Settles from CSU Bakersfield, who scored eight. Howard also recorded four assists this season for a total of 26 points, the most by a freshman at UMKC.
“It’s a great honor,” Howard said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and my ‘Roo family.”
Talmon, a WAC Defensive Player of the Week honoree earlier this season, has played in all 19 matches for the ‘Roos. Like Teson, the freshman has played a major role in the success of the UMKC defense this year, helping hold opponents to a 0.64 shot percentage, and 0.62 percent in conference play.
“I am so thankful to receive the all-conference second-team award,” Talmon said. “Getting this award my freshman year is very special and I know I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches supporting me the whole way. This is a great way to start out the WAC tournament.”
“I’m extremely proud of these four girls and I think they are very well deserving of these honors,” head coach Chris Cissell said. “That being said, I think we have other girls on our team that were deserving of all-conference honors. While they are really excited to receive these awards, they know that what we are here for is to win a conference championship. I think if you would ask them they would trade in their individual honors to be able to hold up the trophy at the end of the weekend and make it to the national tournament. As a coach, I couldn’t have been more proud of what these girls have accomplished this season and the way they have embodied the team spirit.”
The ‘Roos face UTRGV on Thursday, November 5 in the opening round of the WAC Tournament at the Main Soccer Field on the CSU Bakersfield campus. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. CST and will be available to stream live on the WAC Digital Network.
First Team All-WAC
Julia Moravec, Sr., F, Seattle U
Aminah Settles, Fr., F, CSU Bakersfield
Kali Stubbs, Sr., F, Utah Valley
Karli White, Fr., F, Seattle U
Kasandra Anderson, Sr., MF, Utah Valley
Sabrina Delgado, Fr., MF, CSU Bakersfield
Emily Herndon, Jr., MF, Missouri-Kansas City
Kelly Beck, Sr., D, Seattle U
Kiana Kraft, Sr., D, Seattle U
Erika Teson, Sr., D, Missouri-Kansas City
Jessica Duffin, Sr., GK, Utah Valley
Second Team All-WAC
Cassie Beckwith, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Sheridan Fox, Jr., F, Utah Valley
Lexie Howard, Fr., F, Missouri-Kansas City
Jamie Brown, Sr., MF, Utah Valley
McKenzie Cook, Fr., MF, Grand Canyon
Hope Fleckner, So., MF, Seattle U
Madison Cox, So., D, Grand Canyon
Kalli Suesue, Jr., D, Utah Valley
Stephanie Spiekerman, So., D, Seattle U
Emily Talmon, Fr., D, Missouri-Kansas City
Brianna Smallidge, Sr., GK, Seattle U
Offensive Player of the Year: Julia Moravec, Sr., F, Seattle U
Defensive Player of the Year: Jessica Duffin, Sr., GK, Utah Valley
Freshman of the Year: Aminah Settles, Fr., F, CSU Bakersfield
Coach of the Year: Brent Anderson, Utah Valley