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BAY CITY, Mich. — Grand Valley State
University junior forward Ashley Botts (Beloit, Wis./Boylan
Catholic) was named the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (GLIAC) women’s soccer “Offensive
Player of the Year,” while teammate junior midfielder
Alyssa Mira (Livonia, Mich./Churchill), was named
“Defensive Player of the Year” in balloting conducted
by the league’s coaches.
Saginaw Valley State University rookie goalkeeper Laura
Ivezaj (Rochester Hills, Mich.) was honored with the
league’s “Freshman of the Year” award, while
Dave DiIanni, who guided Grand Valley State to the
GLIAC Championship, earned “Coach of the Year”
accolades.
Botts has led an outstanding offense that has
tallied 52 goals this season and ranks sixth in the nation in
scoring offense. She has recorded 15 goals on the season to rank
seventh in the nation while adding seven assists to her resume as
well. Botts recorded a point in 12 matches this season and had four
multi-goal games. The junior forward ranks fourth in the GVSU
record book with 108 career points and has helped the Lakers to an
unbeaten record of 16-0-2 this season.
Mira has been part of a backline that has only
allowed five goals this season for a 0.27 goals against average.
Her leadership of the Grand Valley State defense that ranks first
in the GLIAC and fifth in the nation in shutout percentage (0.72),
has blanked 13 opponents. Mira has also helped on the offensive
front, notching one goal and dishing out four assists. Mira and the
Laker backline have held opponents to just 50 shots on goal through
18 games, just over two shots on target per contest.
Ivezaj, a freshman goalkeeper, started 14 games
in her debut season with the Saginaw Valley women’s soccer
program. Laura pitched seven shutouts during the campaign, making
63 saves with a 0.91 goals against average. Ivezaj prepped at
Rochester High School where she was selected All-State in her
senior season.
DiIanni has led the Lakers to their seventh
consecutive GLIAC regular season title in his ninth season as
GVSU’s head coach, with a perfect 15-0 mark in conference
action. Overall, Grand Valley State remained unbeaten in 2011 at
16-0-2 while picking up a third-place ranking in the NSCAA Top 25
Poll.
Joining Botts and Mira on the All-GLIAC first team are: junior
forward Kayla Addison (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country
Day) of GVSU, along with senior forwards Bri
Borgman (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa) of Ferris State
University, and Amanda Watson (Oregon, Ohio/Clay)
of Northwood University; junior midfielder Erin Mruz
(Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) of GVSU; senior midfielder
Michelle Rogers (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica
Eisenhower) of Tiffin University; senior defender
Megan Brown (Jenison, Mich.) of GVSU; senior
defender Kayla Klosterman (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis
DeSales) of GVSU; junior defender Becky Schmidt
(Slinger, Wis.) of Northern Michigan University, and
junior goal keeper Chelsea Parise (Warren,
Mich./Stevenson) of GVSU.
The complete listing of the 2011 All-GLIAC women’s soccer
teams and postseason awards are below:
2011 GLIAC Women’s Soccer Postseason Awards |
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Offensive Player of the Year: |
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Defensive Player of the Year: |
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Freshman of the Year: |
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Coach of the Year: |
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2011 All-GLIAC Women’s Soccer Teams |
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All-GLIAC First-Team |
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Position |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown/Previous School |
Forward |
Kayla Addison |
Grand Valley State |
Jr. |
Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day |
Forward |
Bri Borgman |
Ferris State |
Sr. |
Holland, Mich./West Ottawa |
Forward |
Ashley Botts |
Grand Valley State |
Jr. |
Beloit, Wis./Boylan Catholic |
Forward |
Amanda Watson |
Northwood |
Sr. |
Oregon, Ohio/Clay |
Midfielder |
Erin Mruz |
Grand Valley State |
Sr. |
Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township |
Midfielder |
Alyssa Mira |
Grand Valley State |
Jr. |
Livonia, Mich./Churchill |
Midfielder |
Michelle Rogers |
Tiffin |
Sr. |
Shelby Township, Mich./Utica Eisenhower |
Defender |
Megan Brown |
Grand Valley State |
Sr. |
Jenison, Mich. |
Defender |
Kayla Klosterman |
Grand Valley State |
Sr. |
Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales |
Defender |
Becky Schmidt |
Northern Michigan |
Jr. |
Slinger, Wis. |
Goalkeeper |
Chelsea Parise |
Grand Valley State |
Jr. |
Warren, Mich./Stevenson |
All-GLIAC Second-Team |
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Position |
Name |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown/ Previous School |
Forward |
Maria Brown |
Grand Valley State |
Jr. |
Columbus, Ohio/New Albany |
Forward |
Chelsea Lyons |
Northern Michigan |
Sr. |
Coon Rapids, Minn. |
Forward |
Amelia Johnson |
Northern Michigan |
Jr. |
St. Michael, Minn. |
Midfielder |
Ashley Davis |
Tiffin |
Jr. |
Westerville, Ohio/North |
Midfielder |
Jennifer Holton |
Ohio Dominican |
So. |
Johnstown, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales |
Midfielder |
Kim Rietveld |
Northern Michigan |
Fr. |
New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central |
Midfielder |
Tonya Frasik |
Ohio Dominican |
Fr. |
Lebanon, Ohio |
Defender |
Abby Bellamy |
Saginaw Valley State |
Sr. |
Davison, Mich. |
Defender |
Ashley Ruz |
Findlay |
Sr. |
Dublin, Ohio/Coffman |
Defender |
Megan Wharton |
Ohio Dominican |
Jr. |
Pickerington, Ohio/Central |
Goalkeeper |
Laura Ivezaj |
Saginaw Valley State |
Fr. |
Rochester Hills, Mich. |