Drake’s Sarah Foote has been voted the 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Most Valuable Player by conference coaches. The junior helped lead the Bulldogs to their fourth-straight regular-season conference title and the No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament. Additionally, Drake's Danielle Oswald is the Defensive Player of the Year as this year's soccer all-conference teams and specialty awards were announced Thursday evening.
Drake’s Sarah Foote has been voted the 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Most Valuable Player by conference coaches. The junior helped lead the Bulldogs to their fourth-straight regular-season conference title and the No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament. She leads the league in shots per game (3.65) and also is tied for first with 28 points on the season. In conference play, she has ten points, also the best in the Valley.
Additionally, Drake’s Danielle Oswald is the league’s defensive MVP. The Bulldogs recorded six shutouts this season and a 1.42 goals against average. In league action, the Bulldogs allowed just three goals in six contests, and finished the regular-season race with a Valley best 0.47 goals against average.
Drake boasts three first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference honorees. Foote and Oswald earned the recognition in the forward and defender categories while Elise Rau also made the first team as a midfielder. Missouri State’s Jackie Jasper earned first team all-conference as a goalkeeper while teammate Kate Hercules also earned first team as a defender. Rounding out the all-conference first-team are defender Emily Munn of Creighton and Shannon Durocher of Illinois State. Meghan Boler of Illinois State and Heidi Grey of Evansville earned the honor as midfielders and Lauren Podolski of Indiana State and Kayla Lambert of Evansville round out the team as forwards.
In addition to Foote and Oswald, Missouri State’s Samantha Aguilar was named the Valley’s 2006 Freshman of the Year. In20 games played this season as a member of the Bears squad, she has two goals and three assists for seven points, including a game winner. Drake had the most student-athletes recognized on the all-freshman team, with three honorees, followed by Creighton, Illinois State and Missouri State with two each.
Evansville’s coaching staff, led by head coach Chris Pfau was voted MVC Coaching Staff of the Year, a new award that replaces the coach of the year honor. His staff includes Krista McKendree, a former Aces, and Alison Weimer.
The All-Missouri Valley Conference Team was honored at a banquet Thursday night in Omaha, Neb., prior to the semifinals and final of the 2006 State Farm MVC Women’s Soccer Championship, slated for Nov. 3 and 5.
FIRST TEAM
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown/Previous School
Meghan Boler, Illinois State, MF, Sr., Wheaton, Ill. (St. Francis)
Shannon Durocher, Illinois State, D, Jr., Mokena, Ill. (Lincoln-Way East)
Sarah Foote, Drake, F, Jr., Arvada, Colo. (Pomona)
Heidi Grey, Evansville, MF, Jr., Port Orchard, Wash. (King’s West)
**Kate Hercules, Missouri State, D, Sr., Kansas City, Mo. (St. Teresa’s Academy)
*Jackie Jasper, Missouri State, GK, So., Lockport, Ill. (Lockport Township)
*Kayla Lambert, Evansville, F, So., Las Vegas, Nev. (Palo Verde)
*Emily Munn, Creighton, MF, Sr., Surrey, British Columbia, Canada (Earl Marriott)
Danielle Oswald, Drake, D, Sr., Dubuque, Iowa (Iowa)
**Lauren Podolski, Indiana State, F, Jr., Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada (Korah)
Elise Rau Drake, MF, Sr., Golden, Colo. (Wheat Ridge)
*Repeat first team selection
SECOND TEAM
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown/Previous School
Chelsea Anderson, Missouri State, F, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (Burke)
Kate Blair, Missouri State, MF, Jr., St. Louis, Mo. (Parkway North)
Katie Brennan, Creighton, D, Sr., Leavenworth, Kan. (Leavenworth)
Shannon Duggan, Illinois State, D, Jr., Beaumont, Alberta (Beaumont)
Jackie Gielau, UNI, F, Jr., Denver, Iowa (Denver)
Melissa Nelson, Drake, F, Sr., Duluth, Minn. (East)
Jenny Schroeder, Drake, GK, Fr., Albquerque, N.M. (Sandia)
Amy Seubert, UNI, MF, Jr., Minnetonka, Minn. (Minnetonka)
Mia Tofano, Evansville, F, So., Las Vegas, Neb. (Bonanza)
Julie Winkler, Evansville, MF, So., Florissant, Mo. (St. Jospeh’s Academy)
Nicole Zygmontowicz, Evansville, D, Jr., Bremerton, Wash. (Central Kitsap)
HONORABLE MENTION: Caroline Sweeney and Lauren Heck Missouri State; Marcy Gans, Kristine Willrett, Heather Duncan, Creighton; Sinead Brown, Drake; Yvonne Northover, Kanisha Campbell and Andrea Shaw, Illinois State.
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Name School Pos. Hometown/Previous School
Samantha Aguilar,Missouri State, MF, Lenexa, Kan. (Olathe North)
Jordan Bruch, Creighton, F, Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-LaVista)
Shannon Eccleston , Illinois State, D, North Olmstead, Ohio (North Olmstead)
Rachel Gielau, Drake, D, Denver, Iowa (Denver)
Eden Hingwing, Creighton, D, Burnaby, British Columbia (Burnaby Central)
Kasey Kutzler, Evansville, D, Evansville, Ind. (Central)
Melissa Lewis, Drake, F, Edina, Minn. (Edina)
Nicole Logan, Missouri State, F, Olathe, Kan. (Olathe)
Katie MacBride, UNI, F, River Falls, Wis. (River Falls)
Ammanda Wisniewski, Illinois State, F, Mundelein, Ill. (Mundelein)
Liz Woerle, Drake, F, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Meadow Creek)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sarah Foote, Drake
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Danielle Oswald, Drake
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Samantha Aguilar, Missouri State
MVC Fair Play Award: Indiana State
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Evansville