Fraley’s Offensive Player of the Year Honor Highlights Soccer’s MAC Awards
October 31, 2023 | Soccer
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - Four members of the Ball State soccer team were honored Tuesday (Oct. 31) afternoon when the Mid-American Conference released its annual postseason awards as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
Leading the charge for the Cardinals was junior forward Lexi Fraley who became the first player in program history to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Fraley also earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive season as did senior forward Avery Fenchel. Sophomore midfielder Delaney Caldwell was named to the All-MAC Second Team for the second straight year as well, while defender Audrey Goodyear was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.
"Soccer is a team sport and I know the players recognized would trade any of this to still be playing, but it's always great to see our young ladies be recognized for the hard work and sacrifice that they put in to be their best," head coach Josh Rife said. "Avery and Lexi are the first double-digit goal scorers in a single season in program history and put teams on their heals all season long. Our shape moved Delaney a little farther away from goal this year, but she was still impactful for us and led our team in assists. Audrey was a young player who battled some injuries early in the season, but once fully healthy really came on and played significant minutes for us throughout the season."
Fraley was a dominating force on the front line during league play for Ball State, scoring nine of her 10 goals this season against MAC foes. Those nine goals tied as the most for any player in league action, while she also ranked atop the MAC in points (20), shots (38) and shots on goal (23) in league play. Just the sixth player in program history to record double-digit goals in a season, with her 10 goals currently ranked 37th nationally, Fraley also currently leads all league players in shots (59) and shots on goal (30) for the entire season.
Fraley scored braces in league matches versus Kent State (Oct. 5), at Buffalo (Oct. 8) and versus Central Michigan (Oct. 26), with her opening goal versus CMU proving to be the match winner to help the Cardinals secure the No. 3 seed and a home quarterfinal match in the MAC Women's Soccer Championship. A member of the 2021 MAC All-Freshman Team, Fraley also collected three assists on the year, with two coming in league play. She was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10.
Fenchel was another dominating attacker for the Cardinals, producing 11 total goals this season, seven of which came in #MACtion. Despite missing Ball State's final two league matches due to injury; she ranked second among all league players with three match-winning goals in conference play. Overall, Fenchel tallied four match-winning goals on the season which currently ranks 27th nationally, while her 11 goals are 26th.
She opened the season with a hat trick versus Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), while adding braces in back-to-back league wins at Buffalo (Oct. 8) and at Akron (12). Fenchel followed the Akron brace with a goal in the draw versus Ohio (Oct. 15), helping her earn her first career MAC Offensive Player of the Week honor. Ball State's active career leader with 24 goals, Fenchel also registered her first career assist at Loyola (Sept. 3).
Caldwell followed her 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year campaign with another solid performance, including tying for league-high honors with five assists in MAC play. Overall, she tallied six total assists this season which ties as the fifth-highest single season total in program history, is tied for second among all league players and is currently 82nd nationally. Caldwell also finished the season with a pair of goals, including the opening goal in Ball State's 2-1 victory over Toledo (Sept. 28). She also scored a goal at Texas Tech (Aug. 24).
Goodyear was an anchor on the Ball Sate back line, helping the Cardinals tally three shutouts on the season, including playing 78 minutes in the 5-0 shutout at Buffalo (Oct. 10) and all 90 minutes in the 2-0 shutout of Central Michigan (Oct. 26) to end the regular season. Her defensive play also helped limit opponents to one goal in eight other matches, as Ball State allowed one-or-fewer goals in 11 of its 19 matches on the year. Goodyear logged 1273 total minutes on the year, including 881 versus MAC foes. Overall, she played all 90 minutes in six of Ball State's 11 league matches after being limited early in the year due to injury.
2023 MAC Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams & Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Lewis Robinson, Western Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Defensive Player of the Year: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper of the Year: Lauren Boafo, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Kate Robinson, Eastern Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Forward: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Forward: Avery Fenchel, Ball State
Forward: Brynn Gardner, Bowling Green
Forward: Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Katie Krohn, Buffalo
Midfielder: Alisa Arthur, Kent State
Midfielder: Abby Werthman, Western Michigan
Defender: Isabelle Gilmore, Bowling Green
Defender: Kelsey Salopek, Kent State
Defender: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Lauren Boafo, Western Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
Forward: Arianna Zumpano, Buffalo
Forward: Shae Robertson, Ohio
Forward: Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Lea Gruennagel, Northern Illinois
Defender: Aubrey Robertson, Northern Illinois
Defender: Quintin Tostevin, Ohio
Defender: Brielle Gomez, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Celeste Sloma, Ohio
All-Freshman Team
Audrey Goodyear, Ball State
Emma Stransky, Bowling Green
Taylor Green, Bowling Green
Maya Galko, Buffalo
Kate Robinson, Eastern Michigan
Olivia Sipsock, Eastern Michigan
Alanna Raimondo, Kent State
Josie Morgan, Kent State
Dominique Popa, Miami
Morhea Hoefen, Miami
Tyra King, Northern Illinois
Jaimason Brooker, Ohio
Leading the charge for the Cardinals was junior forward Lexi Fraley who became the first player in program history to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Fraley also earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive season as did senior forward Avery Fenchel. Sophomore midfielder Delaney Caldwell was named to the All-MAC Second Team for the second straight year as well, while defender Audrey Goodyear was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.
"Soccer is a team sport and I know the players recognized would trade any of this to still be playing, but it's always great to see our young ladies be recognized for the hard work and sacrifice that they put in to be their best," head coach Josh Rife said. "Avery and Lexi are the first double-digit goal scorers in a single season in program history and put teams on their heals all season long. Our shape moved Delaney a little farther away from goal this year, but she was still impactful for us and led our team in assists. Audrey was a young player who battled some injuries early in the season, but once fully healthy really came on and played significant minutes for us throughout the season."
Fraley was a dominating force on the front line during league play for Ball State, scoring nine of her 10 goals this season against MAC foes. Those nine goals tied as the most for any player in league action, while she also ranked atop the MAC in points (20), shots (38) and shots on goal (23) in league play. Just the sixth player in program history to record double-digit goals in a season, with her 10 goals currently ranked 37th nationally, Fraley also currently leads all league players in shots (59) and shots on goal (30) for the entire season.
Fraley scored braces in league matches versus Kent State (Oct. 5), at Buffalo (Oct. 8) and versus Central Michigan (Oct. 26), with her opening goal versus CMU proving to be the match winner to help the Cardinals secure the No. 3 seed and a home quarterfinal match in the MAC Women's Soccer Championship. A member of the 2021 MAC All-Freshman Team, Fraley also collected three assists on the year, with two coming in league play. She was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 10.
Fenchel was another dominating attacker for the Cardinals, producing 11 total goals this season, seven of which came in #MACtion. Despite missing Ball State's final two league matches due to injury; she ranked second among all league players with three match-winning goals in conference play. Overall, Fenchel tallied four match-winning goals on the season which currently ranks 27th nationally, while her 11 goals are 26th.
She opened the season with a hat trick versus Mercyhurst (Aug. 17), while adding braces in back-to-back league wins at Buffalo (Oct. 8) and at Akron (12). Fenchel followed the Akron brace with a goal in the draw versus Ohio (Oct. 15), helping her earn her first career MAC Offensive Player of the Week honor. Ball State's active career leader with 24 goals, Fenchel also registered her first career assist at Loyola (Sept. 3).
Caldwell followed her 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year campaign with another solid performance, including tying for league-high honors with five assists in MAC play. Overall, she tallied six total assists this season which ties as the fifth-highest single season total in program history, is tied for second among all league players and is currently 82nd nationally. Caldwell also finished the season with a pair of goals, including the opening goal in Ball State's 2-1 victory over Toledo (Sept. 28). She also scored a goal at Texas Tech (Aug. 24).
Goodyear was an anchor on the Ball Sate back line, helping the Cardinals tally three shutouts on the season, including playing 78 minutes in the 5-0 shutout at Buffalo (Oct. 10) and all 90 minutes in the 2-0 shutout of Central Michigan (Oct. 26) to end the regular season. Her defensive play also helped limit opponents to one goal in eight other matches, as Ball State allowed one-or-fewer goals in 11 of its 19 matches on the year. Goodyear logged 1273 total minutes on the year, including 881 versus MAC foes. Overall, she played all 90 minutes in six of Ball State's 11 league matches after being limited early in the year due to injury.
2023 MAC Women's Soccer All-Conference Teams & Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Lewis Robinson, Western Michigan
Offensive Player of the Year: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Defensive Player of the Year: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper of the Year: Lauren Boafo, Western Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Kate Robinson, Eastern Michigan
All-MAC First Team
Forward: Lexi Fraley, Ball State
Forward: Avery Fenchel, Ball State
Forward: Brynn Gardner, Bowling Green
Forward: Jen Blitchok, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Katie Krohn, Buffalo
Midfielder: Alisa Arthur, Kent State
Midfielder: Abby Werthman, Western Michigan
Defender: Isabelle Gilmore, Bowling Green
Defender: Kelsey Salopek, Kent State
Defender: Mira Pierre-Webster, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Lauren Boafo, Western Michigan
All-MAC Second Team
Forward: Arianna Zumpano, Buffalo
Forward: Shae Robertson, Ohio
Forward: Jenna Blackburn, Western Michigan
Midfielder: Delaney Caldwell, Ball State
Midfielder: Leah Wengender, Buffalo
Midfielder: Camber Hayes, Miami
Defender: Lea Gruennagel, Northern Illinois
Defender: Aubrey Robertson, Northern Illinois
Defender: Quintin Tostevin, Ohio
Defender: Brielle Gomez, Western Michigan
Goalkeeper: Celeste Sloma, Ohio
All-Freshman Team
Audrey Goodyear, Ball State
Emma Stransky, Bowling Green
Taylor Green, Bowling Green
Maya Galko, Buffalo
Kate Robinson, Eastern Michigan
Olivia Sipsock, Eastern Michigan
Alanna Raimondo, Kent State
Josie Morgan, Kent State
Dominique Popa, Miami
Morhea Hoefen, Miami
Tyra King, Northern Illinois
Jaimason Brooker, Ohio
Players Mentioned
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