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BAY CITY, Mich. -- Northwood University junior forward Amanda Watson (Oregon, Ohio/Clay) was named the 2010 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) women’s soccer “Offensive Player of the Year,” while Grand Valley State University senior defender Jenna Wenglinski (Jenison, Mich.) was named “Defensive Player of the Year” in balloting conducted by the league’s coaches.

    Grand Valley State rookie defender Tayler Ward (Grand Blanc, Mich.) was honored with the league’s “Freshman of the Year” award, while Paula Fantini, who guided Tiffin University to the GLIAC South Division title, earned “Coach of the Year” accolades.

    Watson finished the season leading the GLIAC and the Great Lakes region in four offensive categories - goals (19), points (44), goals per game (1.12) and points per game (2.59).   She also leads the conference in game-winning goals with five.  Nationally, Watson ranks fourth in goals, fifth in points, fifth in goals per game and seventh points per game.   She was named the GLIAC Player of the Week three times this season and has earned the award five times overall.  She scored in nine of Northwood’s last 10 games, netting 13 goals in that stretch.  Despite playing just two seasons at Northwood, Watson already ranks third in school history with 36 goals and 85 points. 

    Wenglinski  has been a part of an impressive backline that has only allowed five goals this season (0.27 goals-against per game). Her leadership of the GVSU defense that ranks first in the GLIAC in shutout percentage (0.78), has recorded 14 shutouts this year and has not allowed a goal at home. Wenglinski and the Lakers have held opponents to just 63 shots on goal through 18 matches, just over three shots on goal per contest.

    Ward has helped the No. 10 Lakers to an impressive 15-1-2 overall record and a 12-1-2 mark in conference action. The freshman defender has started 15 of GVSU’s 18 matches for a total of 1,176 minutes. She has helped the Laker backline hold GLIAC opponents to just five goals this year and the tough GVSU defense has only allowed 125 shots, coming out to an average of seven shots per game.

    Fantini, a native of Brazil, led the Lady Dragons in her first season as head coach to the GLIAC South Division regular season championship with a 9-3-2 conference mark. Overall the Dragons finished the regular season with an 11-4-2 record and a ranking of fifth in the Midwest Region.

     Joining Watson and Wenglinski on the All-GLIAC first team are: sophomore forwards Kayla Addison (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day) and Ashley Botts (Beloit, Wis./Boylan Catholic), along with senior forward Jaleen Dingledine (Newaygo, Mich.) of Grand Valley State; senior midfielder Kristen Eible (DeWitt, Mich.) and junior midfielder Erin Mruz (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) of GVSU; junior midfielder Lauren Turkington (Sterling Heights, Mich.) of Tiffin; junior defender Megan Brown (Jenison, Mich.) of GVSU; senior defender Rosie Paris (Lima, Ohio/Elida) of the University of Findlay; and sophomore goal keeper Jessica Baker (Holt, Mich.) of Northern Michigan University.

    The complete listing of the 2010 All-GLIAC women’s soccer teams and postseason awards are listed below: