Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Cleans up on MAC Awards
November 03, 2016 | Soccer
White named defensive player of the year, four Cardinals named All-MAC
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State soccer team had four players garner All-Mid-American Conference honors Thursday and three named to the all-freshman team with senior Lorina White earning the league's defensive player of the year award for the second straight season.
White, fellow senior defender Leah Mattingly and junior goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel were voted to the All-MAC First Team for the second year in a row, while senior midfielder Chay McNitt was named to the all-conference second team.
Prior to Thursday's announcement, only one player in Ball State history had ever earned first-team honors in multiple seasons (Dee Nocero 2002-04). Now the Cardinals have four such players.
Additionally, forwards Sam Kambol and Julia Elvbo and defender Yela Ziswiler were named to the all-freshman team after making major impacts in their rookie campaigns.
White (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Monroe College) occupied the center back position for the Cardinals for the past two seasons after joining the program as the junior college national player of the year. She started every game of her Ball State career for one of the toughest defensive units in the country. The Cardinals led the MAC in goals against average both years and ranked among the top teams nationally in that category. A player with great versatility, White also owns seven goals in her two years. She is the only Cardinal ever to win one of the league's play-of-the-year awards, and now she's done it twice.
Mattingly (Floyds Knobs, Ind./Providence) is Ball State's all-time leader in games played (82), games started (82) and minutes played (7,678). Having earned second-team recognition as a sophomore, she is only the third player in Cardinals history to receive All-MAC honors three times in her career, joining Nocero and Emily Rein (2006-08). In addition to her work on the back line, Mattingly ranks seventh in school history with 32 career points (11 goals, 10 assists). She is a two-time captain who helped lead the resurgence of Ball State's program.
Heintschel (Oregon, Ohio/Clay) posted a record of 10-2-3 this season with a 0.82 goals against average. Her 0.79 GAA for her career ranks as the best in the Ball State record books. Through just three seasons, Heintschel ranks fourth in school history with 29 wins and second with 18 solo shutouts. She recorded seven shutouts this season as the Cardinals tied with school record with 10 as a team. Heintschel was a captain for the Cardinals this season.
McNitt (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) has been an unsung hero as a defensive midfielder, playing a vital role for Ball State for four years. She has started 58 of the Cardinals' 60 games over the past three seasons. Despite missing a large chunk of her freshman campaign to injury, McNitt ranks sixth in Ball State history with 5,483 career minutes played. Known as one of the best technical players in the league, McNitt provided the first line of defense for a Ball State team that led the league in goals against average three times in her four years.
While Ball State's veterans were highly decorated, the newcomers also made their mark. The Cardinals' three all-freshman team selections were the most of any team in the league and tied for the most in program history (2012).
Ziswiler (Spiez, Switzerland) started all 20 games on the back line, playing 1,790 of a possible 1,884 minutes. She was part of a Ball State defense that led the MAC and ranked among the top 35 nationally with a 0.72 goals against average. BSU limited opponents to an average of 8.2 shots and 3.7 shots on goal per game. Named one of the top 100 freshmen in the country by Top Drawer Soccer, Ziswiler also scored one goal and recorded two assists.
Kambol (South Bend, Ind./Saint Joseph) led Ball State and ranked in the top 10 in the MAC with six goals. She led the league with three game-winning goals in conference play and owns four of them total for the season. Kambol also had one assist to lead the Cardinals with 13 total points. She placed 16 of her 32 shots on goal for the season.
Elvbo (Lit, Sweden) owns three goals and two assists to rank fourth on Ball State's team with eight total points. She played in all 20 games and made 12 starts, including all but one game in conference play. Elvbo helped lead a Ball State attack that outscored opponents 18-6 in league play and 34-15 for the season. She tied Kambol for the team lead with 32 shots.
The long list of award winners comes after Ball State won its second straight MAC regular season championship. The Cardinals (14-3-3 overall) finished 9-1-1 in league play to become only the second team in MAC history to win back-to-back outright regular season titles. The first was Ball State in 2006 and 2007.
2016 All-MAC First Team
Alyssa Heintschel, Ball State, GK
Leah Mattingly, Ball State, D
Lorina White, Ball State, D
Alexis Pelafas, Central Michigan, F
Eliza Van De Kerkhove, Central Michigan, MF
Ellie Tillar, Eastern Michigan, MF
Paige Culver, Kent State, D
Jenna Hellstrom, Kent State, F
Taylor Sarver, Northern Illinois, F
Isa Echeverri, Toledo, MF
Alyssa Burke, Western Michigan, MF
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2016 All-MAC Second Team
Chay McNitt, Ball State, MF
Erica Hubert, Bowling Green, F
Julia Benati, Buffalo, MF
Angel Hart, Buffalo, D
Carissima Cutrona, Buffalo, F
Madison Pogarch, Central Michigan, D
Kaylin Williams, Eastern Michigan, GK
Donavan Capehart, Kent State, FÂ
Abbie Lawson, Kent State, MF
Brittany Maisano, Kent State, D
Alivia Milesky, Ohio, MF
Kiersten Johnson, Toledo, F
Liz Abro, Western Michigan, MF
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2016 Offensive Player of the Year
Jenna Hellstrom, Kent State
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2016 Defensive Player of the Year
Lorina White, Ball State
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2016 Freshman of the Year
Sabrina McNeil, Eastern Michigan
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2016 Coach of the Year
Rob Marinaro, Kent State
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2016 All-Freshman Team
Ashely Amato, Akron, Defender
Julia Elvbo, Ball State, Forward
Sam Kambol, Ball State, Forward
Yela Ziswiler, Ball State, Defender
Maureen Kennedy, Bowling Green, Defender
Gurjeena Jandu, Buffalo, Defender
Marle Bringard, Central Michigan, Midfielder
Sabrina McNeill, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Sierra Henderson-Muschett, Kent State, Defender
Regan Fleck, Miami, Defender
Alivia Milesky, Ohio, Midfielder
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White, fellow senior defender Leah Mattingly and junior goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel were voted to the All-MAC First Team for the second year in a row, while senior midfielder Chay McNitt was named to the all-conference second team.
Prior to Thursday's announcement, only one player in Ball State history had ever earned first-team honors in multiple seasons (Dee Nocero 2002-04). Now the Cardinals have four such players.
Additionally, forwards Sam Kambol and Julia Elvbo and defender Yela Ziswiler were named to the all-freshman team after making major impacts in their rookie campaigns.
White (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Monroe College) occupied the center back position for the Cardinals for the past two seasons after joining the program as the junior college national player of the year. She started every game of her Ball State career for one of the toughest defensive units in the country. The Cardinals led the MAC in goals against average both years and ranked among the top teams nationally in that category. A player with great versatility, White also owns seven goals in her two years. She is the only Cardinal ever to win one of the league's play-of-the-year awards, and now she's done it twice.
Mattingly (Floyds Knobs, Ind./Providence) is Ball State's all-time leader in games played (82), games started (82) and minutes played (7,678). Having earned second-team recognition as a sophomore, she is only the third player in Cardinals history to receive All-MAC honors three times in her career, joining Nocero and Emily Rein (2006-08). In addition to her work on the back line, Mattingly ranks seventh in school history with 32 career points (11 goals, 10 assists). She is a two-time captain who helped lead the resurgence of Ball State's program.
Heintschel (Oregon, Ohio/Clay) posted a record of 10-2-3 this season with a 0.82 goals against average. Her 0.79 GAA for her career ranks as the best in the Ball State record books. Through just three seasons, Heintschel ranks fourth in school history with 29 wins and second with 18 solo shutouts. She recorded seven shutouts this season as the Cardinals tied with school record with 10 as a team. Heintschel was a captain for the Cardinals this season.
McNitt (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) has been an unsung hero as a defensive midfielder, playing a vital role for Ball State for four years. She has started 58 of the Cardinals' 60 games over the past three seasons. Despite missing a large chunk of her freshman campaign to injury, McNitt ranks sixth in Ball State history with 5,483 career minutes played. Known as one of the best technical players in the league, McNitt provided the first line of defense for a Ball State team that led the league in goals against average three times in her four years.
While Ball State's veterans were highly decorated, the newcomers also made their mark. The Cardinals' three all-freshman team selections were the most of any team in the league and tied for the most in program history (2012).
Ziswiler (Spiez, Switzerland) started all 20 games on the back line, playing 1,790 of a possible 1,884 minutes. She was part of a Ball State defense that led the MAC and ranked among the top 35 nationally with a 0.72 goals against average. BSU limited opponents to an average of 8.2 shots and 3.7 shots on goal per game. Named one of the top 100 freshmen in the country by Top Drawer Soccer, Ziswiler also scored one goal and recorded two assists.
Kambol (South Bend, Ind./Saint Joseph) led Ball State and ranked in the top 10 in the MAC with six goals. She led the league with three game-winning goals in conference play and owns four of them total for the season. Kambol also had one assist to lead the Cardinals with 13 total points. She placed 16 of her 32 shots on goal for the season.
Elvbo (Lit, Sweden) owns three goals and two assists to rank fourth on Ball State's team with eight total points. She played in all 20 games and made 12 starts, including all but one game in conference play. Elvbo helped lead a Ball State attack that outscored opponents 18-6 in league play and 34-15 for the season. She tied Kambol for the team lead with 32 shots.
The long list of award winners comes after Ball State won its second straight MAC regular season championship. The Cardinals (14-3-3 overall) finished 9-1-1 in league play to become only the second team in MAC history to win back-to-back outright regular season titles. The first was Ball State in 2006 and 2007.
2016 All-MAC First Team
Alyssa Heintschel, Ball State, GK
Leah Mattingly, Ball State, D
Lorina White, Ball State, D
Alexis Pelafas, Central Michigan, F
Eliza Van De Kerkhove, Central Michigan, MF
Ellie Tillar, Eastern Michigan, MF
Paige Culver, Kent State, D
Jenna Hellstrom, Kent State, F
Taylor Sarver, Northern Illinois, F
Isa Echeverri, Toledo, MF
Alyssa Burke, Western Michigan, MF
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2016 All-MAC Second Team
Chay McNitt, Ball State, MF
Erica Hubert, Bowling Green, F
Julia Benati, Buffalo, MF
Angel Hart, Buffalo, D
Carissima Cutrona, Buffalo, F
Madison Pogarch, Central Michigan, D
Kaylin Williams, Eastern Michigan, GK
Donavan Capehart, Kent State, FÂ
Abbie Lawson, Kent State, MF
Brittany Maisano, Kent State, D
Alivia Milesky, Ohio, MF
Kiersten Johnson, Toledo, F
Liz Abro, Western Michigan, MF
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2016 Offensive Player of the Year
Jenna Hellstrom, Kent State
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2016 Defensive Player of the Year
Lorina White, Ball State
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2016 Freshman of the Year
Sabrina McNeil, Eastern Michigan
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2016 Coach of the Year
Rob Marinaro, Kent State
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2016 All-Freshman Team
Ashely Amato, Akron, Defender
Julia Elvbo, Ball State, Forward
Sam Kambol, Ball State, Forward
Yela Ziswiler, Ball State, Defender
Maureen Kennedy, Bowling Green, Defender
Gurjeena Jandu, Buffalo, Defender
Marle Bringard, Central Michigan, Midfielder
Sabrina McNeill, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Sierra Henderson-Muschett, Kent State, Defender
Regan Fleck, Miami, Defender
Alivia Milesky, Ohio, Midfielder
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Players Mentioned
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