Champion Yellowjackets sweep top UMAC women's soccer awards
ST. PAUL, Minn.---The University of Wisconsin-Superior earned its first-ever Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women's soccer regular and postseason championships in impressive unbeaten fashion in 2021. Following the historic season, the Yellowjackets led the all-conference awards list and swept all four top honors, it was announced Tuesday.
Niya Wilson was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Year with Erin Schoborg collection the Defensive Player of the Year nod and Jenna Lang taking the Rookie of the Year honor. The 'Jackets' head coach Allison DeGroot was selected by her peers as the Coach of the Year for the second-straight season and third time in her career.
Under DeGroot's leadership, the Yellowjackets compiled a historic season and ride a 17-game unbeaten streak into the program's first NCAA tournament appearance Saturday. DeGroot's squad enters the NCAA postseason with an impressive 18-3-1 record overall. Her team won the program's first-ever regular season UMAC championship with a 13-0-1 record before winning twice to capture its first UMAC tournament title.
While DeGroot provided the off-field leadership, Wilson provided the on-field heroics to lead the Yellowjackets offensively. The sophomore forward has ranked in the top 10 in Division III in multiple offensive categories this season. She led the conference overall in goals (20), points (51) and game-winning goals (8) and was second in assists (11). Wilson was also second in conference-only goals (13) and points (32) and third in assists (6).
Wilson's top performance this season came with a four-goal and one-assist outing in a win over the University of Minnesota Morris on Oct. 2. She also recorded three other multi-goal games including a second against the Cougars. There were only four games this season in which Wilson did not record a point. She also contributed as a scorer or passer on more than one goal in nine different games. Wilson was named the UMAC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season.
The Yellowjackets may have received its offensive strength from Wilson, but its stout defense was anchored by the duo of Schoborg and Lang. The young defensive line for the Yellowjackets was led by senior captain Schoborg who was third among the team's field players in total minutes (1511) this season. Her efforts helped the Yellowjackets to a conference best just four goals allowed (.281 goals against average/GAA). Schoborg and the 'Jackets recorded 10 team shutouts this season and only allowed one goal to a team that finished outside the top four in the UMAC standings. Schoborg and the defensive line also limited conference opponents to 3.14 shots on goal per game which was second-lowest this fall.
Lang was the final line of defense for the Yellowjackets in goal, and the rookie came up big for her squad en route to the team's championships. In conference play she boasted a UMAC-fewest 10 goals allow (.588 GAA) and UMAC-best .892 save percentage. The first-year keeper recorded three conference and four total shutouts and six combined shutouts. Lang did not give up more than one goal in a game to any UMAC teams during the regular season. Her top performance in conference play was a 10-save effort in a 3-0 shutout of runner-up University of Northwestern on Oct. 8. Lang was three times selected the UMAC Defensive Player of the Week.
The champion Yellowjackets led all teams in total all-conference honorees with seven individuals recognized on one of the three teams with a UMAC-best five First Team selections. Runner-up Northwestern finished with six total selections, while third-place Bethany Lutheran College had five individuals honored.
The all-conference list has some impressive individual career highlights led by five-time all-conference selection Maddie Perry of Bethany Lutheran who has been either First or Second Team in each of the five seasons she competed. She was able to complete a fifth-season due to COVID-19 eligibility waivers from the NCAA.
In addition to Perry, two other players have been selected to one of the three teams including Annah Schussman of Wisconsin-Superior and Emily Currie of Northwestern. Schussman has earned First Team honors three-straight years while Currie has been a back-to-back First Team pick. Monica Calderon of Minnesota Morris is the only other player to earn honors at least three times with back-to-back First Team honors as well.
There are 10 UMAC players who have been named to at least one of the two teams twice in their careers including Allison Alessi (Wisconsin-Superior), Asia Jota (Bethany Lutheran), Jay Kwateh (Minnesota Morris), Kara Lewis (North Central University), Natalie Moeller (Northwestern), RJ Mullin (Northwestern), Caroline O'Donnell (Minnesota Morris), Lindrey Schendel (Wisconsin-Superior), Molly Schmitz (Crown College) and Wilson.
Martin Luther College won the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represents sportsmanship throughout the entire season, including the championship event. Each team also had one representative named to the individual sportsmanship award list.
Offensive Player of the Year* - Niya Wilson, So., Wisconsin-Superior
Defensive Player of the Year^ - Erin Schoborg, Sr., Wisconsin-Superior
Rookie of the Year# - Jenna Lang, Fy., Wisconsin-Superior
Coach of the Year - Allison DeGroot, Wisconsin-Superior
2021 UMAC Women's Soccer All-Conference First Team
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Monica Calderon |
Minnesota Morris |
Jr. |
MF |
Indio, Calif./La Quinta |
| Halle Carlson |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Fy. |
D |
Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown |
| Emily Currie |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
MF |
Minneapolis, Minn./Homeschool |
| Jenna Lang% |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Fy. |
G |
Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial |
| Megan Moeller |
Northwestern |
So. |
F |
Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Christian |
| Natalie Moeller |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
D |
Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Christian |
| Alexis Orlando |
North Central |
Fy. |
F |
Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount |
| Maddie Perry |
Bethany Lutheran |
Sr. |
F |
Anoka, Minn./Anoka |
| Erin Schoborg# |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Sr. |
D |
St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech |
| Annah Schussman |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Sr. |
MF |
Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji |
| Niya Wilson* |
Wisconsin-Superior |
So. |
F |
Superior, Wis./Superior |
2021 UMAC Women's Soccer All-Conference Second Team
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Allison Alessi |
Wisconsin-Superior |
So. |
F |
Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake |
| Anna Borgwardt |
Martin Luther |
So. |
D |
Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran |
| Ashley Casper |
Bethany Lutheran |
Fy. |
D |
Petaluma, Calif./San Marin |
| Mya Chan |
Northwestern |
Fy. |
D |
Brandon, S.D./Homeschool |
| Emma Domka |
Crown |
So. |
MF |
Becker, Minn./Becker |
| Ellie Fryer |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
G |
Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville |
| Lexi Kaufman |
Bethany Lutheran |
So. |
MF |
Fairmont, Minn./Fairmont |
| Zoe Kinakin |
Bethany Lutheran |
Sr. |
G |
Victoria, British Columbia/Lambrick Park Secondary |
| Jay Kwateh |
Minnesota Morris |
Jr. |
D |
Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo |
| RJ Mullin |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
MF |
Temecula, Calif./Rancho Christian |
| Kim Peters |
Minnesota Morris |
Fy. |
F |
Eagan, Minn./Eastview |
| Hannah Schroeder |
Martin Luther |
So. |
F |
Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Luther Prep |
2021 UMAC Women's Soccer All-Conference Honorable Mention
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Reece Gellerman |
Northland |
So. |
F |
Greenville, Wis. |
| Hannah Grubbs |
North Central |
Sr. |
MF |
Mantua, Ohio/Newbury |
| Asia Jota |
Bethany Lutheran |
So. |
MF |
Pasadena, Calif./John Marshall |
| Greta Keffer |
Northland |
Fy. |
MF |
St. Paul, Minn. |
| Kara Lewis |
North Central |
Jr. |
MF |
Mandeville, La./Northlake Christian |
| Elysabeth Lough |
Northland |
Fy. |
G |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Caroline O'Donnell |
Minnesota Morris |
Jr. |
D |
Kailua, Hawaii/Kailua |
| Hannah Pedderson |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
MF |
Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata |
| Ashley Pierce |
Crown |
Fy. |
F |
Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer Ridge |
| Nicole Porter |
Martin Luther |
Jr. |
MF |
New Ulm, Minn./Minnesota Valley Lutheran |
| Lindrey Schendel |
Wisconsin-Superior |
So. |
MF |
Firestone, Colo./Skyline |
| Molly Schmitz |
Crown |
So. |
G |
Whispering Pines, N.C./Union PInes |
| Ellie Taylor |
Crown |
So. |
D |
Cologne, Minn./Homeschool |
| Kirsten Vensland |
Northland |
So. |
D |
Somerset, Wis. |
| Lilianne Zimpelmann |
Martin Luther |
Fy. |
D |
Manitowoc, Wis./Luther Prep |
2021 UMAC Women's Soccer Sportsmanship Awards
Team Award - Martin Luther
Bethany Lutheran - Emma Lau, Fy., Darby, Kan./Luther
Crown - Trinity Gregory, Fy., Bement, Ill./Homeschool
Martin Luther - Grace Sievert, Jr., Yorba Linda, Calif./Rockey Mountain Lutheran
Minnesota Morris - Ayla Wicklow, Fy., Winona, Minn./Lewiston-Altura
North Central - Arien Fritts, Jr./Ham Lake, Minn./Fritts Homeschool Academy
Northland - Coriander Dehlin, Sr., Viroqua, Wis./Viroqua
Northwestern - Trae Modaff, Jr., Monticello, Minn./Monticello
Wisconsin-Superior - Claire Smith, Sr., Hayward, Wis./Hayward