Maxwell and Willis Named All-NorPac First Team; Willis, Defensive P.O.Y.
11/1/2006 2:11:31 PM | Field Hockey
Lauren Biggers
DAVIDSON, N.C. - At the annual NorPac Conference Awards Banquet held this evening at Baker Arena, junior forward Kayli Maxwell and junior back Jen Willis were named to the First-Team All-Norpac Conference, while Willis was also honored as the 2006 NorPac Defensive Player of the Year.
California senior Valentina Godfrid was named the 2006 NorPac Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, while her coach Shellie Onstead was honored as the Coach of the Year for a second straight season. Pacific senior Vianney Campos was named Offensive Player of the Year, and Stanford's Nora Soza garnered Rookie of the Year honors. Appalachian State senior Erica Muschamp earned the Sheryl Johnson Academic Excellence Award, and Stanford sophomore Chloe Bade was presented the Julie Nagle Extraordinary Teammate Award.
Starting every match this season for the Wildcats, Willis registered a NorPac-best nine defensive saves. The Gorham, Maine native, made key defensive saves throughout the season, including against Appalachian State and Radford in conference matchups. Named NorPac Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19, she also added a spark on offense for Davidson, notching three goals and an assist over the course of the season.
Maxwell was named All-Norpac conference for the third consecutive season, but makes her first appearance on the first-team. The 2004 Rookie of the Year paced the Wildcats offense all season, recording 12 goals and six assists –leading the team in both categories, for a team-high 30 points. Named NorPac Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26, she recorded five game-winners this season.
With tonight's two selections, head coach Lisa Thompson has coached a total of 15 all-conference honorees. Willis' selection as Defensive Player of the Year is the fourth under Thompson, who coached Sarah Nolan (2003 and 2004) and Jessica Barton (2002) to the honor as well.
The 2006 NorPac Championships will begin tomorrow, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. when fourth-seeded Davidson hosts the fifth-seeded Radford Highlanders at Belk Turf Field. The tournament will conclude at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 with the championship game.
First Team
Pacific Vianney Campos, Sr., Forward
Pacific Jen Chaney, Sr., Midfielder
Stanford Julia Drewes, Sr., Midfielder
California Ashley Glosz, So., Midfielder
California Valentina Godfrid, Sr., Forward
California Andrea Lo, So., Forward
Davidson Kayli Maxwell, Jr., Forward
Stanford Aska Sturdevan., Sr., Back
California Veronica Sykes, So., GK
Davidson Jen Willis, Jr., Back
Stanford Jess Zutz, Jr., Forward
Second Team
Stanford Madison Bell, Jr., GK
Radford Tiffany Church, Sr., Midfielder
Longwood Katie Claxton, Jr., Midfielder
Pacific Katie Fixsen, Jr., Back
California Lisa Hauck, Sr., Back
Pacific Katy McDonough, Fr., Forward
Radford Stephanie McLamb, So., Forward
Longwood Katie Murphy, Sr., Back
Appalachian St. Erica Muschamp, Sr., Midfielder
California Jamie Nance, Sr., Midfielder
Stanford Bailey Richardson, So., Back
Player of the Year
Valentina Godfrid, Cal
Offensive Player of the Year
Vianney Campos, Pacific
Defensive Player of the Year
Jen Willis, Davidson
Freshman of the Year
Nora Soza, Stanford
Coach of the Year
Shellie Onstead, Cal
Sheryl Johnson Academic Excellence Award
Erica Muschamp, Appalachian State
Julie Nagle Extraordinary Teammate Award
Chloe Bade, Stanford
