Soccer Cards Collect MAC Awards Ahead of Title Game Appearance

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The MAC West Division champion Ball State soccer team had four players and its head coach recognized with postseason honors from the league.

The Cardinals placed Nicky Potts on the All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive season along with Lexy Smith, while Tatiana Mason earned second-team honors. Mac Henson was named to the league's all-freshman team, and Josh Rife was voted MAC Coach of the Year.

The awards, selected by the league's head coaches, were announced Thursday afternoon as the Cardinals continued preparations to face Bowling Green in Saturday's MAC Championship game.

Potts, a redshirt junior from Nuneaton, England, has again been one of the top midfielders in the league. She leads the Cardinals with four assists this season and also added a goal to raise her career totals to 10 goals and seven assists.

Smith, a junior from Rochester Hills, Michigan, has helped to anchor a Ball State back line that has limited opponents' chances all season long and has allowed only seven goals in nine games. A key set piece taker, she has also added three assists.

Mason, a junior forward from Ann Arbor, Michigan, is tied for the team lead with three goals this season, including a game-winner. The former MAC Freshman of the Year is the Cardinals' active leader in career goals with 11 and career assists with 12.

Henson, a freshman forward from Omaha, Nebraska, has made an immediate impact in her first season in Muncie. She has appeared in all nine games and netted her first career goal, the game-winner in a key division game at Eastern Michigan.

Rife, in his second season as head coach, has guided Ball State to a 6-2-1 record and the MAC West Division championship. He owns a record of 21-7-1 during his short tenure in Muncie, including a mark of 15-4-1 in conference play.

Ball State visits Bowling Green for a 7 p.m. kickoff in Saturday's MAC title game, as the Cardinals seek their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

2020-21 MAC Women's Soccer Awards
Coach of the Year: Josh Rife, Ball State
Offensive Player of the Year: Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
Freshman of the Year: Jaelyn Dobrowolski, Central Michigan

All-MAC First Team
Forward: Marcy Barberic, Buffalo
Forward: Madi Wolfbauer, Bowling Green
Forward: Natalie Belsito, Central Michigan
Forward: Sabrina McNeill, Eastern Michigan
Midfielder: Nicky Potts, Ball State
Midfielder: Nikki Cox, Bowling Green
Midfielder: Amanda Cripps, Eastern Michigan
Midfielder: Bailey Korhorn, Western Michigan
Defender: Lexy Smith, Ball State
Defender: Hannah Callaghan, Buffalo
Defender: Morgan Collica, Ohio
Goalkeeper: Emily Kelly, Buffalo

All-MAC Second Team
Forward: Tatiana Mason, Ball State
Forward: Gianna Yurchak, Buffalo
Forward: Morgan Otteson, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Desiree Grubbs, Miami
Midfielder: Vital Kats, Kent State
Defender: Jasmijn Dijsselhof, Bowling Green
Defender: Audrey Shea, Bowling Green
Defender: Maria Kaschalk, Central Michigan
Defender: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Emily Dahl, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Lilli Berg, Bowling Green

MAC All-Freshman Team
Mac Henson, Ball State, Forward
Jaelyn Dobrowolski, Central Michigan, Forward
Lexy Alston, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Haley Anspach, Miami, Forward
Camber Hayes, Miami, Midfielder
Kierah Meier, Northern Illinois, Forward
Isabella Ginocchi, Ohio, Midfielder
Shae Robertson, Ohio, Forward/Midfielder
Carsyn Prigge, Ohio, Midfielder/Defender
Ellie Pool, Toledo, Forward
Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan, Forward

Soccer Cards Collect MAC Awards Ahead of Title Game Appearance

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Players Mentioned

Mac Henson

Tatiana Mason

Nicky Potts

Lexy Smith

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