The Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference announced their Women's Soccer Honors for the 2023 season on Friday morning. Parker Cheney and Scott Oliver highlight the immense list of award winners.
Cheney, a sophomore, was named the WHAC Midfielder of the Year. Cheney led the team in goals scored as well as in total points. She has notched 10 goals and 5 assists on the season, for a total of 25 points. She has scored a team high five game winning goals for the Saints. Her five game-winning-goals are tied for the 7th best mark in SHU history.
Head Coach Scott Oliver was selected as the WHAC Coach of the Year. Oliver, in his 23rd season as the coach for the Saints led his team to a share of the WHAC Regular Season Championship, and the #1 seed in the WHAC Tournament and a bid to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. This is the third career WHAC Coach of the Year Award for Oliver, he also won the award in the 2002 and 2009 seasons. With their qualification this year, Oliver has led the Saints to a total of seven NAIA National Tournament Appearances, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2017 and 2023. He has led them to five WHAC Championships as well, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2023. To date, Oliver's teams have won five WHAC Tournament Championships, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2017. They have finished runner-up in the WHAC six times, in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2015.
Cheney and two teammates were honored as 1st Team All-WHAC performers. Marissa Young, a senior forward was named to the 1st Team along with MacKenzie Stenzel, a senior defender. Young has scored eight goals and notched 16 points, with four of her goals being game winners. Stenzel has been a rock on the defense, starting all 19 games for a defense that has allowed only seven goals all season while notching 12 shutouts and allowing no more than one goal in any game this year.
Two Saints were honored for their work being named 2nd Team All-WHAC. Sarah Ammon, a junior forward, and Caitlyn Harwood, a senior goalkeeper earned this recognition. Ammon was third on the Saints team in goals and points, and was second in assists. She has scored five goals on the season coupled with four assists for a total of 14 points. She scored one game winning goal. Harwood has played in 18 games, making 54 saves and allowing only six goals in almost 1600 minutes of game time. She carries a meager 0.34 goals against average and has 10 shutouts to her credit. She has earned 11 wins and five ties on the season without suffering a defeat. Her 11 wins have her currently tied for 8th best in SHU history, while her goals against average would sit at a tie for the 3rd best in SHU history. Her ten shutouts are the 8th best total in SHU history and goals allowed have her at the 3rd best mark.
Kailey Lambert was honored as a part of the All-Newcomer team. Lambert, a freshman defender, has played in all 19 games and started seven of those for a very stingy Saints defense. The Saints are 3rd in the country in goals against average, 4th in the country in goals allowed, and 4th in the country in shutouts.
Junior goalkeeper Evelyn Marx was recognized on the WHAC Champions of Character Team. This award honors one student from each team that best represents the five core character values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
Rounding out the award winners were a league high total of 25 student-athletes recognized for their work in the classroom. In order to earn the Academic All-WHAC award, a student must be a sophomore or better academically and maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher. The Saints who earned this award were Olivia Emert, Marissa Young, Maria Brixner, Caitlyn Harwood, Sophie Zelek, Allie Balasico, Lily Tiplady, Morgan Llewellyn, MacKenzie Stenzel, Kennedy Hyde, Gia Diaz, Sarah Ammon, Laura Kaceli, Kayla Rivers, Alyssa Fischer, Christina Ibanez-Merino, Kaitlyn Jacobs, Evelyn Marx, Rachel Lynch, Maddie Morris, Parker Cheney, Alyssa Naso, Maddie Chronister, Maya Ruffles, Ashton Parker and Reagan Fennelly.
The Saints will play at least two more games this season, a WHAC Semi-Final on Saturday, November 4th at 5 pm against Lawrence Tech. Should they win that game, they will host the WHAC Conference Tournament Championship on Saturday November 11th against the winner of Aquinas and Northwestern Ohio. They have already qualified for the NAIA National Championship Tournament with their regular season WHAC Conference Championship. The opening round for the National Championship Tournament will begin on November 16th at campus sites around the country.
