Thiessen, Webber highlight Allegheny NCAC honorees
MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny coach Mike Webber was named North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, and freshman Jessie Thiessen the NCAC Newcomer of the Year, as the Gators were well-represented in the conference's year end women's soccer awards.
In addition to the honors for Webber and Thiessen, six Gators were named All-NCAC as per a vote of the league's nine head coaches. Thiessen, midfielder Alison Buzzard, and defender Leanne Balster were First Team All-NCAC picks, defender Lauren Miller and midfielder Hannah Zangara Second Team selections, and midfielder Jaymee Wallace an Honorable Mention honoree.
In his ninth year at the helm, Webber led the Gators to a share of the NCAC regular season title, with a 5-1-2 conference record, before winning the team's first ever NCAC tournament championship with last Saturday's 2-0 win over Wittenberg. Under Webber, the Gators led the NCAC in both goals scored (22) and fewest goals allowed (5) during the conference schedule, while Allegheny out-shot NCAC opponents an average of 22-11 and posted six shutouts in eight conference matches. This marks the seventh season under Webber in which the Gators posted at least 10 wins in a season, while the Gators played in the NCAC title match for the third time in four years, and are making their second appearance in the NCAA postseason in four years. Webber enters the NCAA tournament with a 90-51-18 overall record at Allegheny.
Thiessen has led the Gator offense throughout the season. She finished her freshman campaign leading the conference in both goals (10) and points (26), while placing third with six assists. A two-time NCAC Player of the Week, Thiessen scored three of the Gators' four goals in the NCAC tournament, posting both of Allegheny's tallies in a 2-0 semifinal win over DePauw while scoring an insurance marker in the Gators' 2-0 victory over Wittenberg in the championship round. Thiessen is the first Gator to earn NCAC Newcomer of the Year honors since current senior Alison Buzzard did so in 2010.
Buzzard, a senior, enters the NCAA postseason with 13 points, on six goals and one assist. Also a First Team pick as a freshman in 2010, Buzzard has started 18 games and has proven to be extremely versatile. Primarily a midfielder, she's also seen extensive time at both forward and defense, helping the squad notch 10 shutouts. For her career, she's started 70 games, scoring 12 goals and two assists.
Balster, also a senior, has been the anchor for the Gator defense, as the senior has started all 20 games on the back line. The Gator defense ranks first in the NCAC in goals against average (0.80) and shutouts (10), while Allegheny surrenders an average of just 8.1 shots per game. She leads the Gators in minutes, averaging 87.5 per game, while she also contributed offensively with two assists.
Miller was another key member of the top-ranked defense in the NCAC, starting all 20 games and averaging over 83 minutes per contest. In addition to her prowess on defense, the sophomore has been a major weapon on set pieces, handling the majority of the Gator corner and free kicks, as well as throws. Miller has picked up three assists on the season, good for 10th in the NCAC, all of which were the results of perfect corner kicks.
Zangara started all 20 games for the year at midfield, and enters the NCAA postseason with 12 points, on five goals and two assists. Three of the sophomore's goals have been game-winners, including an overtime score in the Gators' 2-1 win over Grove City and the lone goal in Allegheny's 1-0 win over Denison in the NCAC regular season opener, which proved pivotal as it allowed the Gators to emerge as the top seed in a three-way tie for first place in the NCAC entering the league tournament. The NCAC Player of the Week on Sept. 30, she's posted 35 shots on the year and 21 on goal, good for second on the team.
Wallace, a junior, bounced back from early season injury to become a stalwart at center mid for the Gators. Wallace has made 12 appearances and 11 starts, and Allegheny is 8-1-3 with her in the lineup. She's scored two goals, including the double overtime game winner in a 1-0 win at Fredonia State, while she's also been vital for a defense that has allowed an average of just 0.58 goals when she's been on the field.
The Gators open up the NCAA Division III tournament on Saturday, facing Thomas More College at 1:30 p.m. in Crestview Hills, Ky.
