- This release courtesy of the Grand Valley State Sports Information Department -

Tafler, Nasturzio, Eible Headline All-GLIAC Choices  

Allendale, Mich. - The GLIAC announced its all-conference awards on Friday between semifinal matches of the conference tournament. Grand Valley State University earned the most all-conference nods, earning nine of the 11 spots on the All-GLIAC First Team, as well as Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year. Katy Tafler won the Offensive Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season.

Tafler finished the regular season with 33 goals and 10 assists for a total of 76 points, which led the nation and the conference. She also tallied eight game-winning goals. Sue Christenson won the conference Defensive Player of the Year award for GVSU. Christenson was part of a GVSU defense that held opponents to just six goals in 17 games. Kristen Eible won the Freshman of the Year award to sweep the individual player awards for GVSU. Eible scored five goals and added seven assists and was the only freshman at GVSU to start on a regular basis this season.

Dave DiIanni, GVSU's head coach, won the Coach of the Year award after leading the Lakers to nine consecutive weeks as the top-ranked team in the NSCAA polls and the school's first-ever perfect season (17-0). Over the five years the DiIanni has been at GVSU, the Lakers have compiled a record of 88-12-3 in 103 games.

Tafler, Christenson and Eible were all named to the All-GLIAC First Team, as well, and were joined by six of their teammates. GVSU garnered nine of the 11 First Team spots available. Along with Tafler at forward, Ashley Elsass earned the award, scoring 12 goals and seven assists as GVSU's second-leading scorer during the regular season. She also set an NCAA Div. II record earlier in the season when she scored three consecutive goals in 1:09 against Findlay. The goals were the fastest three consecutive goals by the same player in Div. II history.

GVSU put three midfielders on the team, including Eible. Meaghan Robinson and Katie Johnson also earned the honors. Robinson and Johnson were both key cogs in the Laker system that helped GVSU outscore opponents by a 74-6 margin. Robinson also scored two goals and two assists during the year, while Johnson added two assists.

On defense, three more Lakers were named to the All-GLIAC First Team. Emily Berner and Kourtney Willert joined Christenson on the backline. Berner scored one goal and added three assists while Willert notched two goals and one assist. The three were part of a stellar defense that helped GVSU to a school-record 18-match winning streak.

Finally, Kristina Nasturzio was named the goalkeeper for the All-GLIAC First Team. Nasturzio finished the season with a perfect 17-0 record in goal, allowing just four goals in 1404:08 of action. She also recorded six shutouts during the regular season and started in every game for GVSU.

 All-GLIAC First Team

Ashley Elsass, Grand Valley State

Sarah Powell, Mercyhurst

Katy Tafler, Grand Valley State

Kristen Eible, Grand Valley State

Katie Johnson, Grand Valley State

Meaghan Robinson, Grand Valley State

Sue Christenson, Grand Valley State

Laura Piazza, Gannon

Kourtney Willert, Grand Valley State

Kristina Nasturzio, Grand Valley State

Emily Berner, Grand Valley State

All-GLIAC Second Team

Ali Cariglio, Findlay

Renee LeBlanc, Northern Michigan

Tammy Unsworth, Ferris State

Brittney Buchanan, Northern Michigan

Christine Rehnert, Mercyhurst

Stephanie Roy, Saginaw Valley State

Jackie Back, Ferris State

Katy Bluher, Ashland

Rosie Paris, Findlay

Stacy LaLond, Saginaw Valley State

Courtney Rowan, Gannon