Women's Soccer | October 31

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the women's soccer postseason awards on Tuesday, October 31.  Three Huskies have received accolades as freshman Tyra King was named to All-Freshman Team and Aubrey Robertson and Lea Gruennagel were named to All-MAC Second team.
 
King led the Huskies in goals this season with three, including a pair of game-winners, she also finished tied for the team lead with six points. The Naperville, Ill., native appeared in 17 matches during her rookie season, making 16 starts.
 
"I believe that's a fantastic achievement," NIU head coach Michael O'Neill said. "She's been a huge piece of our attacking unit this year. She's scored some huge goals, the goal against Ball State sticks out, last minute against the top team in the conference, and a big game winner at Kent State as well. She has made a huge impact. As a freshman, she thoroughly deserves this award.
 
"I'm really excited to see where her career goes. She's obviously a young freshman as well, she's just 17 years old. So, we feel like she's still got a lot of developing to do and her first year in the MAC was just remarkable. In terms of her coming in as a freshman and being that frontline, we're so excited for Tyra's future and obviously very proud of the work that she's done."
 
This marks the second consecutive year in which a Huskie has been named to the MAC All-Freshman Team, Amber Best received the honor a season ago.
 
Robertson, who appeared in all 19 matches this season, making 18 starts, scored one goal in 2023 and was switched from midfield to the defensive line during the course of the 2023 season.
 
"I'm extremely proud of her because of all the work she has put in to get to this point," O'Neill said. "We actually moved Aubrey to the backline about midway through the season, we felt like she could help us with some of the things that we were struggling with at the time, she was a fantastic addition to that backline and never batted an eyelid in terms changing positions.
 
"She did exactly what we asked and what was needed for the team. She's a very good soccer player and very intelligent, she helped us in possession, but also organization, her leadership skills, and that really helped lead us to one of the best defensive displays in program history."
 
Gruennagel, a junior who is in her second year with the Huskies, scored two goals and had two assists this season. A left back, Greunnagel was also an important member of the defense for NIU as she started all 19 matches.  
 
"Leah came with me from Saginaw Valley State," said O'Neill. "One of the reasons I brought her with me was that I knew she would have an impact in the back. Even with the change in level, I knew that she was more prepared for this conference, and she was nothing short of sensational this year. One of the things that we wanted more from Lea was for her to be better defensively, and I thought she was fantastic defensively this year.
 
"We always knew that she was a great attacking left back, has some very good technical skills and she is a very intelligent soccer player in general. She matched up against some of the best players in the conference this year and was one of the best two-way players, I felt, with in the conference."
 
Gruennagel and Robertson are the first Huskies to earn all-conference honors since Haley Hoppe was named to the All-MAC Second Team in 2017.
 
Each of the three players who were honored will be back with the Huskies in 2024.
 
"We're so excited to get all three of them back next year and see where they can go in the future," O'Neill said.
 
The Huskies finished 2023 with an 8-8-3 overall record and a 6-5-1 record in MAC play. NIU's eight overall victories were its most since 2017 and its six conference wins are the most for the program since 2007.
 
MAC Honors
Coach of the Year: Lewis Robinson, Western Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Defensive Player of the Year: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper of the Year: Lauren Boafo, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Kate Robinson, Eastern Michigan
 
All-MAC First Team
Forward: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Forward: Avery Fenchel, Ball State
Forward: Brynn Gardner, Bowling Green
Forward: Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Katie Krohn, Buffalo
Midfielder: Alisa Arthur, Kent State
Midfielder: Abby Werthman, Western Michigan
Defender: Isabelle Gilmore, Bowling Green
Defender: Kelsey Salopek, Kent State
Defender: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Lauren Boafo, Western Michigan
 
All-MAC Second Team
Forward: Arianna Zumpano, Buffalo
Forward: Shae Robertson, Ohio
Forward: Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Lea Gruennagel, NIU 
Defender: Aubrey Robertson, NIU
Defender: Quintin Tostevin, Ohio
Defender: Brielle Gomez, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Celeste Sloma, Ohio
 
All-Freshman Team
Audrey Goodyear, Ball State
Emma Stransky, Bowling Green
Taylor Green, Bowling Green
Maya Galko, Buffalo
Kate Robinson, Eastern Michigan
Olivia Sipsock, Eastern Michigan
Alanna Raimondo, Kent State
Josie Morgan, Kent State
Dominique Popa, Miami
Morhea Hoefen, Miami
Tyra King, NIU
Jaimason Brooker, Ohio