11/8 - ALL-CONFERENCE: Seven Bruins Receive All-Conference Recognition
2007 All-NWC Women's Soccer Teams
NEWBERG, Ore. - Seven members of the George Fox University women's soccer team, who helped the Bruins to their best record in seven years, have been honored with recognition on the 2007 All-Northwest Conference Women's Soccer Teams as voted on by the league's nine coaches.
Earning All-Conference Second Team honors are forwards Amber Stevens and Jenny McKinsey, midfielder Nicole Akiu, and defender Melissa Leighty. Receiving honorable mention for All-NWC are goalkeeper Jessica Cardwell and midfielders Kirsten Cardwell and Molly Schaefer.
Stevens, a senior from Medford, Ore., tied for third in the conference in goals (11), points (29), and fifth in assists (7) and shots (79). She led the Bruins in shots, tied for the lead in goals, and was second in points and assists. She scored two goals in a game four times, and had game-winning shots at Lewis & Clark and in the season finale in overtime against Linfield. In her four-year career, she scored 25 goals, had 14 assists, and totaled 64 points, ranking third all-time at George Fox in assists and fourth in goals and points.
McKinsey, a sophomore from Spokane, Wash., was second in the NWC in points (30) and third in game-winning goals (5), tied for third in goals (11) and assists (8), and was seventh in shots (73). She had three games with two goals scored. It was her first year with the Bruins, having also earned Second Team All-NWC honors as a freshman for Pacific Lutheran University before transferring to George Fox.
Akiu, a freshman from Honolulu, Hawai'i, was eighth in the league in assists (6) and also scored five goals for a total of 16 points, which ranked third on the team. One of the quickest players in the conference, she also played a significant role in the Bruins' improved defense.
Leighty, a freshman from Canby, Ore., proved to be one of the best defenders in the conference from her position as a sweeper, the Bruins' last line of defense before the goalkeeper. With her in the middle, the Bruins allowed only 1.16 goals a game, which ranked fourth in the league.
Jessica Cardwell, a senior from Springfield, Ore., received her third honorable mention All-NWC award, and was a Second Team All-NWC choice as a sophomore. This season, she ranked fourth in the league in shutout (5) and save percentage (.814), fifth in goals against average (1.21), and sixth in saves (96). She finished her four-year career with 512 saves, set a new George Fox career record with 18 shutouts, and her goals against average of 1.39 ranks third all-time.
Kirsten Cardwell, a freshman from Springfield, Ore., and the sister of the Bruins' goalkeeper, gave the Bruins a third strong scoring threat with seven goals, third on the team and 12th in the conference, and 14 points, fourth on the team. She had game-winning goals against Willamette and at Linfield in overtime.
Schaefer, a sophomore from Salem, Ore., had three goals and one assist for seven points this season, ranking fifth on the team in both goals and points, while also playing stellar defense. She was recently named to the ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII College Division First Team. As a freshman, she ranked second in the NWC in assists with eight, and now has six goals and nine assists for 21 points in her two years with the Bruins.
Under sixth-year coach Andy Hetherington, the Bruins went 12-6-2 in 2007 and tied for third in the NWC with a record of 9-5-2. It was the Bruins' best record and first winning season since they were 13-5 in 2000 and finished second in the league. With only three seniors on this year's squad, the Bruins expect to continue their improvement and perhaps be a contender for NWC top honors next fall.
Janece Levien and Kallie Wolfer of league champion University of Puget Sound were named NWC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year respectively, while Sean Bushey of runner-up Whitworth University was honored as Coach of the Year.