Sarah Ryan of McKendree University has been selected as the 2008 AMC Women's Soccer Player of the Year. Ryan, a junior forward from Rochester, Ill., tallied 18 goals and seven assists for a team-leading 43 points during regular-season play. She was a big factor in helping the Bearcats to their sixth consecutive AMC regular-season championship. Ryan was a first-team All-AMC honoree in 2007. This is the fourth time in the last five years that a McKendree player has claimed AMC Player of the Year honors in women's soccer. Jenna Schellenberg captured the award three straight years from 2004-06.
The 2008 AMC Newcomer of the Year award, given to the league's top transfer player, was given to Chrissy Ghirardi of McKendree University. Ghirardi, a redshirt freshman defender from O'Fallon, Mo., came to McKendree after a year at Saint Louis University. Ghirardi helped anchor a Bearcat defense that allowed just six goals in AMC play this season. For the entire 2008 season, McKendree has given up just nine goals. Ghirardi added a goal and an assist from her defender position.
Picking up the AMC Freshman of the Year award for 2008 is Sulyn Keomanivane of McKendree University. Keomanivane, a midfielder from Granite City, Ill., was second in scoring for the Bearcats with 37 points. She netted 16 goals and added five assists in her rookie season for McKendree. Keomanivane becomes the third McKendree player in the last four years to etch her name on the AMC Freshman of the Year award, joining current teammates Kelsey Johnson (2006) and Katelyn Cleveland (2005).
Tim Strange of McKendree University has been named the 2008 AMC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year. This marks the sixth consecutive year - and seventh time in the last eight years - that Strange has been selected for the honor. Now in his 10th season at McKendree, Strange guided the Bearcats to a record of 16-1-1 record during the 2008 regular season and a perfect 10-0 mark in AMC action. McKendree won its sixth straight AMC regular-season title under Strange's guidance. Entering the AMC Tournament, Strange held a career record of 149-38-14.
The AMC Fair Play and Sportsmanship Award is also voted upon by the conference coaches. This annual award is presented to the program that exhibits those qualities. The 2008 AMC women's soccer Fair Play and Sportsmanship Award winner is Harris-Stowe State University.
Listed below is the complete list of 2008 AMC women's soccer award winners. For a PDF copy of the All-Conference team and award recipients, click here.
2008 AMC Women's Soccer All-Conference Team
2008 AMC Player of the Year - Sarah Ryan, McKendree University, (Jr., F, Rochester, N.Y.)
2008 AMC Freshman of the Year - Sulyn Keomanivane, McKendree University (Fr., M, Granite City, Ill.)
2008 AMC Coach of the Year - Tim Strange, McKendree University (10th Season at McKendree)
2008 AMC Fair Play and Sportsmanship Award - Harris-Stowe State University
First-Team All-Conference
Jenna Neumann, University of Illinois at Springfield (Fr., Alton, Ill.)
Taylor Hay, Missouri Baptist University (Jr., Worden, Ill.)
Ashley Morgan, William Woods University (Sr., Valparaiso, Ind.)
Alysa Askew, Hannibal-LaGrange College (So., St. Jacob, Ill.)
Sulyn Keomanivane, McKendree University (Fr., Granite City, Ill.)
Katelyn Cleveland, McKendree University (Jr., Collinsville, Ill.)
Ilana Milkez, McKendree University (So., Bogota, Colombia)
Colleen Wagner, Hannibal-LaGrange College (Sr., Rolling Meadows, Ill.)
Kelsey Johnson, McKendree University (Jr., Granite City, Ill.)
Nicole Hazlett, Missouri Baptist University (So., Kansas City, Mo.)
Stacie Bonte, William Woods University (Sr., Fenton, Mo.)
Kelli Kubal, University of Illinois at Springfield (Fr., Woodridge, Ill.)
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Jasman Edmond, Hannibal-LaGrange College (Fr., Tomball, Texas)
MIDFIELDERS -
Theresa Kaiser, McKendree University (So., St. Louis, Mo.)
Amanda Renaud, Missouri Baptist University (Sr., O'Fallon, Mo.)
Alison Hoffman, University of Illinois at Springfield (Fr., Quincy, Ill.)
Erin Staley, University of Illinois at Springfield (So., Chatham, Ill.)
Caty Newbold, William Woods University (Fr., Jefferson City, Mo.)
Colleen Dailey, William Woods University (Sr., Ellisville, Mo.)
Academic All-Conference (minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, newcomers are ineligible for award)
Hannibal-LaGrange College
Alysa Askew, McKayla Christiansen, Sarah Goldman, Leslie Gordon, Amber Hedrick, Brittany Johnston, Emma McCartney, Bethany Olson, Katie Quigg, Morgan Read, Melinda Rickard, Kelly Schnitzmeier, Christina Schremp, Marsha Summers
Trista Cook, Kayla Gibbar, Maya Morris, Courtney York
University of Illinois at Springfield
Kristin Delafeld, Alexandra Newbern, Jessica Titsworth
Megan Ansley, Lindsey Freeman, Theresa Kaiser, Ilana Milkez, Kyla Nighohossian, Lindsey Ponder, Sarah Ryan, Erin Spotanski, Liz Yanko
Missouri Baptist University
Heather Allen, Kat Prior, Ashley Roberts
Stacie Bonte, Kelsey Evans, Bailey Jungmann, Ashley Morgan, Kristen Phinney, Abrina Tainter, Nicole Westhues
| Hannibal-LaGrange vs | 10:00am |
| Trinity Christian College | CST |
| Clearwater Invitational | |
| Hannibal-LaGrange vs | Game |
| Trinity Christian College | 2 |
| Clearwater Invitational | |
| William Woods vs | (10) | 3 |
| University of Saint Francis | 2 |
| William Woods vs | (8) | 7 |
| University of Saint Francis | 8 |
| University of Sioux Falls at | 0 |
| Park | 1 |
| James Parsons registers first collegiate shut-out and strikes out eight | |
| University of Sioux Falls at | 4 |
| Park | 2 |
| Missouri Baptist at | Rain |
| Mid-Continent College | Out |
| Missouri Baptist at | Rain |
| Mid-Continent College | Out |
| Waldorf College at | 12:00pm |
| Williams Baptist | CST |
| Waldorf College at | Game |
| Williams Baptist | 2 |
| Saint Xavier University at | (8) | 9 |
| McKendree | 7 |
| Saint Xavier University at | 10 |
| McKendree | 9 |
| Mount Mercy College at | 1:00pm |
| Harris-Stowe | CST |
| Mount Mercy College at | Game |
| Harris-Stowe | 2 |
| Oklahoma Christian University vs | 0 |
| McKendree | 6 |
| Gulf Coast Invitational - Orange Beach, Ala. | |
| Haskell Indian Nations University at | Ppd. |
| Stephens | |
| Played at Rockbridge High School | |
| Haskell Indian Nations University at | Ppd. |
| Stephens |
| William Woods vs | 4 |
| Central Methodist College | 1 |
| Park vs | 3 |
| Thomas University | 10 |
| University of Mobile Tournament | |
| Montreat College vs | 5 |
| Columbia | 1 |
| Spring Hill College vs | 4 |
| McKendree | 6 |
| Gulf Coast Invitational - Orange Beach, Ala. | |
| William Woods vs | 3 |
| Martin Methodist | 5 |
| Park vs | 1 |
| Auburn University Montgomery | 8 |
| University of Mobile Tournament - Orange Beach, Ala. | |
| Shorter College vs | (5) | 8 |
| Columbia | 0 |
| Missouri Baptist at | 4th of 10 |
| Millikin University Spring Opener at Oak Terrace Resort Golf Course (Pana, Ill. - 3/12-3/13) | |
| University of Sioux Falls at | 12:00pm |
| Park | CST |
| University of Sioux Falls at | Game |
| Park | 2 |
| Mount Mercy College at | 12:00pm |
| Harris-Stowe | CST |
| Saint Xavier University at | 12:00pm |
| McKendree | CST |
| Saint Xavier University at | Game |
| McKendree | 2 |
| William Woods vs | 12:30pm |
| University of Saint Francis | CST |
| William Woods vs | 10:00am |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene College | CST |
| William Woods vs | Game |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene College | 2 |
