RELEASED:  Wednesday, November 12, 2008

UW-Eau Claire’s Kooistra Tops All-WIAC Women’s Soccer Selections; UW-Stevens Point’s Miech Named Coach of the Year

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Liz Kooistra was voted the Player of the Year to top the 22 individuals selected to the 2008 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Soccer Team, while UW-Stevens Point head coach Sheila Miech was chosen the Coach of the Year.

A senior midfielder, Kooistra is the third individual in school history to claim the award, joining Maria Iaizzo (2006) and Anna Talbot (2007).  Kooistra secured first team recognition for the fourth time in her career and becomes the second player in program archives to claim first team status four consecutive years – along with teammate Allison Smith.

Kooistra ranks fourth in the conference with 10 assists, fifth with 32 points and sixth with 11 goals.  She has recorded at least one point in 13 of the team’s 21 matches this year, including a season-high four points on three occasions.

Repeat selections on the first team consisted of:  UW-Eau Claire’s Allison Muer, Allie Rivard, Allison Smith and Amy Smith, UW-La Crosse’s Ramsey Weyenberg, UW-Oshkosh’s Jenny Drott, UW-Stevens Point’s Amanda Prawat and Kaylee Weise and UW-Whitewater’s Mary Donohoo and Alyssa Spaude.

Muer, senior midfielder, claimed first team laurels for the second straight year.  She ranks eighth in the WIAC with six assists and has added two goals for 10 points.

A senior goalkeeper, Rivard secured first team honors for the third consecutive season.  She leads the league with a 0.70 goals-against-average and eight shutouts, while registering 58 saves.  Rivard entered the season the WIAC career leader with a 0.38 goals-against-average.

Allison Smith, a senior defender, spearheads a Blugold defense that has recorded 11 shutouts and a conference-best 0.75 goals-against-average.  She has tallied one assist this season.

Amy Smith, a senior forward, claimed first team recognition for the third consecutive year.  She ranks third in the league with 21 goals and 48 points and eighth with six assists.

A senior forward, Weyenberg ranks eighth in the league with six assists and was second on the team with 14 points.  She also contributed four goals to the Eagle attack enroute to her second straight first team plaque.

Drott, a senior defender, secured first team laurels for the second straight year after helping the Titan defense record four shutouts.  She added two goals and one assists for five points.

Prawat, a senior forward, captured first team honors for the fourth consecutive season and becomes the fifth player in program history to accomplish the feat.  She leads the league with 29 goals and five match-winning goals, while ranking second with 68 points and fourth with 10 assists.  Prawat holds WIAC records with 85 career goals and 199 career points.

Weise claimed first team laurels for the third straight year.  A senior forward, she tops the conference with 69 points and 17 assists, while placing second with 26 goals.  Her 69 points represent the third-highest single-season total in league chronicles.

A senior forward, Donohoo was also a first team selection in 2006.  She ranks fourth in the league with 16 goals and 34 points.  The 16 goals symbolize the second-highest total in program history and her 35 career goals also rank second.

Spaude, a senior defender, captured first team recognition for the second consecutive season.  She led a defense that allowed 26 goals and posted an 1.53 goals-against-average - the third-lowest totals in the conference.

Additional first team picks this year included:  UW-La Crosse’s Amanda Clark and Chelsea Gilbertson, UW-Platteville’s Allie Metcalf and Kim Schneckloth, UW-River Falls’ Megan Church, UW-Stevens Point’s Mary Jean Cornelius, Meghan VandenHeuvel, Emily Walsh and Katie Waterman, UW-Stout’s Courtney Tideman and UW-Whitewater’s Sara Brown.

UW-Stevens Point head coach Sheila Miech was voted the Coach of the Year for the seventh time in her career after directing the Pointers to the WIAC regular-season and tournament titles and a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  She also claimed the award in 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2004.  Miech is in her 22nd season at UW-Stevens Point and owns a 318-102-38 record (.736 winning percentage).

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.  It included one member from each school as selected by that school.

2008 All-WIAC Women’s Soccer Team
First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Sara Brown, Whitewater, Sophomore, Midfielder, Lake Zurich, Ill.
Megan Church, River Falls, Sophomore, Midfielder, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Amanda Clark, La Crosse, Senior, Goalkeeper, Minocqua (Lakeland Union)
Mary Jean Cornelius, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Midfielder, West Bend (West)
Mary Donohoo, Whitewater, Senior, Forward, Wauwatosa (West)
Jenny Drott, Oshkosh, Senior, Defender, Mukwonago
Chelsea Gilbertson, La Crosse, Senior, Midfielder, Waunakee
Liz Kooistra, Eau Claire, Senior, Midfielder, Lakeville, Minn.
Allie Metcalf, Platteville, Junior, Forward, Madison (Monona Grove)
Allison Muer, Eau Claire, Senior, Midfielder, Minneapolis, Minn. (South)
Amanda Prawat, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Oregon
Allie Rivard, Eau Claire, Senior, Goalkeeper, Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata)
Kim Schneckloth, Platteville, Junior, Defender, Davenport, Iowa (West)
Allison Smith, Eau Claire, Senior, Defender, Bloomington, Minn. (Thomas Jefferson)
Amy Smith, Eau Claire, Senior, Forward, Bloomington, Minn. (Thomas Jefferson)
Alyssa Spaude, Whitewater, Senior, Defender, Hartland (Arrowhead)
Courtney Tideman, Stout, Freshman, Defender, Sartell, Minn.
Meghan VandenHeuvel, Stevens Point, Senior, Defender, Naperville, Ill. (Central)
Emily Walsh, Stevens Point, Senior, Midfielder, Waunakee
Katie Waterman, Stevens Point, Senior, Defender, Oregon
Kaylee Weise, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Brookfield (East)
Ramsey Weyenberg, La Crosse, Senior, Forward, Appleton (East)

All-Sportsmanship Team
Allie Rivard, Eau Claire, Senior, Goalkeeper, Plymouth, Minn. (Wayzata)
Amanda Clark, La Crosse, Senior, Goalkeeper, Minocqua (Lakeland Union)
Amanda Matzke, Oshkosh, Senior, Forward, Green Bay (Preble)
Meghan McGivern, Platteville, Sophomore, Midfielder, Palmyra (Palmyra-Eagle)
Jen Terry, River Falls, Senior, Defender, Shoreview, Minn. (Totino-Grace)
Jennisa Koch, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, Waupaca
Cassey Haase, Stout, Senior, Midfielder, North Fond du Lac (Horace Mann)
Jessica Olson, Superior, Junior, Defender, Little Falls, Minn.
Alyssa Spaude, Whitewater, Senior, Defender, Hartland (Arrowhead)

Player of the Year:  Liz Kooistra of Eau Claire
Coach of the Year:  Sheila Miech of Stevens Point
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete:  Allie Rivard of Eau Claire