Chandler Backes

WKU Soccer Hosts Annual Banquet and Alumni Game

3/22/2019 2:33:00 PM | Women's Soccer

WKU Soccer kicked off this past weekend with its annual awards banquet on Friday evening inside the Downing Student Union and wrapped up with the program's annual Alumni Game last Saturday afternoon.

Friday evening's banquet was a celebration of the 2018 season that saw WKU go 3-1-2 in its final six C-USA games, including a point from both Rice and then-No. 24 North Texas in the same season for the first time since joining the league in 2015. Awards from various organizations were handed out along with team awards decided by the coaches and players.

Nicole Roseland took home top honors at the annual banquet, earning the team's Most Valuable Player award. After playing much of her career as a holding midfielder, Roseland took on an evolving role as a senior and turned in her strongest season since arriving in 2015. The Altamonte Springs, Fla., native scored the first two goals of her career and dished out four assists after entering the year with just one collegiate point to her name and played 90 or more minutes in nine different contests, finishing with 1,526 minutes played.

Ambere Barnett and Kaylyn Bryant were recognized as WKU's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, for the 2018 campaign. Barnett shined in her first season with the Lady Toppers, becoming only the second freshman in program history to earn First Team All-Conference honors with team-best marks in goals (seven) and assists (eight). Barnett played a role in all four goals during WKU's dramatic win over UTEP in October, scoring twice and assisting on two other goals to seal the win. Bryant played 1,585 minutes along WKU's back line, the second-most among all field players, and scored her first goal since her freshman campaign, scoring in the 62nd minute as the Lady Toppers came from behind in a 3-3 draw with Rice.

Most Improved Player was presented to three Lady Toppers, with Chelsea Moore, Victoria Mayo and Kerragan Mulzer earning the accolades. Moore and Mulzer both improved throughout their freshman seasons, seeing extensive playing time despite being in their debut seasons for the Lady Toppers. Mayo, returning from a knee injury suffered in 2017, started 10 games and tallied a goal and a pair of assists, becoming a mainstay in the starting lineup during the C-USA season.

Roseland and Sarah Gorham were given the Coach's Award which is given to the individual whose outstanding character, passion and perseverance embodies the most positive ideals of intercollegiate athletics. Longtime starters for the Lady Toppers, Roseland and Gorham combined for 121 starts in 142 appearances across their careers on The Hill, with both starting all 17 matches during the 2018 campaign. Roseland and Gorham combined for eight goals and six assists during their senior seasons, and both were named to the All-C-USA Second Team for their efforts.

Gorham has also recently signed a professional contract with Lidköpings FK in the Swedish Elitettan, becoming WKU's first-ever field player to ink a professional deal following her time on The Hill.

Senior Hannah Cady was given the Alumni Spirit Award for her positive energy on and off the field. The award is sponsored by the WKU Women's Soccer Alumni Association and is given to the person who represents the team well with civic activities and in the classroom. Despite missing the season due to injury, Cady provided veteran leadership from the bench and exemplified everything that a good teammate should be for the Lady Toppers.

The ROTC Leadership Award, presented to the player who best exemplified the qualities of leadership as a strong teammate, was awarded to Megan Morris. Morris made 15 starts in 16 appearances during her senior season for the Lady Toppers, totaling one goal and a career-best three assists across 1,318 minutes of action.

The Lady Toppers wrapped up the weekend with their annual Alumni Game on Saturday afternoon, hosting 16 former players including 2007 Sun Belt Player of the Year Morgan (Thomas) Pisano and 2012 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Ali Stahlke. Roseland, a three-time All-C-USA honoree, and two-time Academic All-American Rachel (Friedman) Tinius were also in attendance for the event. The current Lady Topper squad battled the talented alumni roster to a 0-0 draw. Afterwards, the current and alumni rosters were mixed for a second friendly match as past and present Lady Toppers took the field together.
 
WKU will continue its 2019 spring schedule on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at the WKU Soccer Complex as the Lady Toppers welcome Vanderbilt. Admission to the event is free and all fans are welcome to attend all home Lady Topper spring matches.