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BAY CITY, Mich. -- Grand Valley State University senior forward Irie Dennis (New Albany, Ohio) was named the 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) women's soccer "Offensive Player of the Year," while teammate, sophomore defender Megan Brown (Jenison, Mich.), was named "Defensive Player of the Year" in balloting conducted by the league's coaches.

Grand Valley State rookie midfielder Ashley Botts (Beloit, Wis./Boylan Catholic) was honored with the league's "Freshman of the Year" award, while Drago Dumbovic, who guided Saginaw Valley State University to a school record for wins in a season, earned "Coach of the Year" accolades.

Dennis has started all 19 matches and notched six goals and six assists for a total of 18 points this season, helping the No. 3 Lakers to a 17-0-2 (13-0-1) GLIAC record. She currently ranks fifth in GVSU history with 28 assists, sixth with 30 goals and sixth with 88 points during her career. The Lakers have posted a record of 76-3-4 in her four years on the squad, and Dennis has notched 11 game-winning goals in a Laker uniform. She has also been recognized for her academics, as she was recently named a member of the 2009 ESPN The Magazine All-District IV Academic Second Team.

Brown has been apart of an impressive backline that has only allowed eight goals this season (.42 goals-against per game). She is the leader of the GVSU defense that ranks first in the GLIAC in shutout percentage (0.63) and has recorded 12 shutouts this season. Brown and the Lakers have held opponents to just 45 shots on goal through 19 matches, just over two shots on goal per contest. In conference play the Lakers allowed just five goals, and not more than one in any match. Brown has started all of GVSU's 19 matches, playing 1,401 minutes and notching five assists this year.

Botts has helped the No. 3 Lakers to an unbeaten 2009 regular season and has helped improve the GVSU unbeaten streak to 59 regular season games and 39 conference matches. She currently leads the Lakers with 12 goals and 28 points. Among GLIAC players, she ranks second in goals, third in points, and is tied for second with five game-winning goals. Botts leads GVSU with 71 shots, placing 33 of them on goal.

Dumbovic earns the GLIAC "Coach of the Year" award for the first time in his seven seasons at the helm of the SVSU women's soccer team. He has led the Cardinals to their five-straight winning seasons, including a team record 13 victories this fall. Under the guidance of Dumbovic, the Cardinals have posted nine shutouts during the 2009 season with a starting lineup that featured a majority of underclassmen. SVSU has posted a 13-2-2 overall record and a 10-1-2 record in GLIAC play, with its only defeat coming at the hands of nationally-ranked Grand Valley State.

Joining Dennis, Brown, and Botts on the All-GLIAC first team are: teammates junior midfielder Kristen Eible, senior midfielder Katie Johnson, sophomore midfielder Erin Mruz, senior defender Amber Bloem, junior defender Jenna Wenglinski, and freshman goal keeper Chelsea Parise of GVSU; sophomore forward Amanda Watson of Northwood University; sophomore forward Bri Borgman of Ferris State University.

The complete listing of the 2009 All-GLIAC women's soccer teams and postseason awards are below: