CLEVELAND – Amber Best (Southfield, Mich./Mercy) of the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team was named to the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team as the league office announced its all-conference teams on Tuesday (Nov. 1). 

Best tied for the team-lead with four goals and 10 points, equaling Claudia Muessig (Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw) in both categories. Best appeared in 17 matches for the Huskies in her rookie season, making eight starts, including each of the final five games of the season. The Huskie forward recorded the first multi-goal game of her NIU career on Oct. 20 when she scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over Eastern Michigan. 

"We are proud of Amber's achievements this year," said NIU head coach Michael O'Neill. "She was out for the first part of the season through injury and as soon as she came back, she made a huge difference to our front line and was able to score some goals in the MAC as a freshman which is a pretty cool feat. Amber works hard and I know she is excited and hungry to do more in her time here at NIU. I'm proud of her and excited to see what is to come in her remaining three years."

All four of Best's goals came during conference play as she tied for eighth in the MAC in league goals. The Southfield, Mich. native's four goals are the most by a Huskie freshman since Lisa Maier netted five during the 2006 season. 

Best becomes the 10th Huskie to earn MAC All-Freshman Team honors, and the first since Kierah Meier (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) during the 2020-21 season. 

NIU finished the 2022 season with a 6-8-4 overall record, 3-6-2 in MAC play. The six wins overall, and three conference victories, are both the most for the program since 2017. NIU's eight losses is the fewest in a season since the 2008 campaign.