Johnson, Kelly Named Women's Soccer "Most Valuable"

9 December 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Senior Marisa Johnson and junior Katie Kelly have been chosen as the “Most Valuable Players” for the Illinois Wesleyan women’s soccer team.

Johnson and Kelly, who was a co-MVP for IWU last season, were also elected to the third team of the all-Central region squad chosen by members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Johnson (Wayne, St. Charles East HS) scored 12 goals with five assists for 29 points for the Titans, who finished 14-6-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. A first team all-conference selection, Johnson finished her career as IWU’s fourth leading career scorer with 83 points and tied Ann Bernard’s school record with 25 assists.

Despite missing three games with an ankle injury, Kelly (Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville South HS) led the Titans in scoring with 37 points on 15 goals with seven assists. After three seasons she is No. 3 all-time at IWU in both points (91) and goals (40).

In other team awards, sophomore Kristin Freund (McHenry, Johnsburg HS) was chosen as the team’s “Most Improved Player” and juniors Mary Karson (St. Charles HS) and Kelly and sophomore Katie Korder (Urbana HS) were elected to be co-captains for the 2005 squad.

Karson had 13 points with six goals this season and ranks No. 10 all-time in scoring with 51 points and is tied for No. 7 with 22 career goals.

Sophomore Emily Castner (Elgin, Larkin HS) did the bulk of the goalkeeping, allowing 1.47 goals per game with five shutouts for the Titans, who were ranked No. 22 in the country in Division III at one point of the season.

Head coach David Barrett awarded 25 letters to women's soccer players, including 19 to players who will return next season. The letterwinners are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS - Zaya Fusco (Lake Bluff, Freeport HS), Marisa Johnson (Wayne, St. Charles East HS), April Naylor (Geneva HS), Jessica Pyzyna (Arlington Heights, Hersey HS), Stephanie Travers (Maryville, Rosati-Kain HS), Kristin Wood (Sycamore HS).

JUNIORS - Heather Jensen (Windham N.H., Salem HS), Mary Karson (St. Charles HS), Katie Kelly (Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville So. HS), Brittany Kirkpatrick (Lakeville, Minn. HS), Jennifer LaBrenz (Kalamazoo Mich., Central HS).

SOPHOMORES – Emily Castner (Elgin, Larkin HS), Kristin Freund (McHenry, Johnsburg HS), Ashley Goergen (Geneva HS), Katie Korder (Urbana HS), Lyndsay O’Brien (Peoria, Notre Dame HS), Eileen Ouska (Skokie, Niles West HS), Amy Slott (Oswego HS).

FRESHMEN – Amanda Cordes (Naperville, Neuqua Valley HS), Taryn Hegi (Wheaton, North HS), Jackie Kofod (Glenview, Glenbrook South HS), Megan Lucke (Libertyville HS), Jessica Pryor (Bettendorf, Iowa, Pleasant Valley HS), Megan Rynne (Oak Forest, Marian Catholic HS), Carrie Walz (Bloomington, Ill; Browning [Utah] Academy).

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206