Rodriguez Repeats as IWU Women’s Soccer “Most Valuable”

January 12, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — For the second straight season, senior defender Tina Rodriguez has been chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the Illinois Wesleyan women’s soccer team.

Rodriguez (Simi Valley, Calif., Royal HS), a three-time first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, was a second team all-Central region selection this fall for a team that finished 15-6-2 and, for the first time ever, won the CCIW regular season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament.
Rodriguez was also once named as the “Defensive Player of the Week” in the CCIW this season.

In another team award, sophomore midfielder Kelsey Porter (Bloomington HS) was the winner of the team’s “Most Improved Player” distinction. Porter had two goals and added two assists for six points.

Third team all-region and first team all-CCIW selection Caroline Leighton (Bloomington, Normal Community HS) led IWU in scoring with 26 points and netted a team-best 10 goals. She ended her career No. 4 at IWU in both points scored (95) and goals (41), tied for No. 11 with 13 career assists and is No. 2 all-time with 198 career shots attempted. Her 81 career games makes her the school’s all-time leader, eclipsing 79 by Amy Slott and Emily Castner (both 2003-06).

Sophomore goalkeeper Alli Novak (Naperville, North HS) made 84 saves and set a school record with a 0.46 goals against average. In addition, her 15 wins is tied for a single season record and her two-year record of 22-14-5 gives her the fourth most wins for a goalie. Her 180 career saves is No. 2 in IWU history and her 4.39 saves per game is the school leader.

Head coach Dave Barrett, who was the league’s “Coach of the Year”, awarded 21 letters to women's soccer players, including 18 to players who will return next season. The letterwinners are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS – Caroline Leighton (Bloomington, Normal Community HS), Carissa Nemmers (Dubuque, Iowa, Hempstead HS), Tina Rodriguez (Simi Valley, Calif., Royal HS).

JUNIORS – Erin Kugler (Peoria, Notre Dame HS), Emily Marcheschi (Hinsdale, Nazareth Academy), Alexa Nosek (Geneva, Benet Academy), Elizabeth Sinclair (Peoria, Richwoods HS).

SOPHOMORES – Annmarie Dolak (Naperville, North HS), Alyssa Feulner (St. Charles, East HS), Lexi Florian (Antioch HS), Carlie Hoesktra (Wheaton, Wheaton-Warrenville South HS), Alli Novak (Naperville, North HS), Rachel Pennington (Ballwin, Mo., Parkway West HS), Kelsey Porter (Bloomington HS), Tori Samson (Chesterfield, Mo., Parkway Central HS).

FRESHMEN –Haley Hergert (Amana, Iowa, Clear Creek HS), Amanda Kessel (Medina, Ohio, HS), Lauren Knaack (McHenry HS), Lynn Martin (Belleville, West HS), Molly O’Brien (Valparaiso, Ind. HS), Dana Tomasetti (Darien, Hinsdale South HS).