FARMINGTON, Utah – Kira Witte earned her second-straight Goalkeeper of the Year honor and
Alyssa Peters was named Co-Defensive MVP while six other Vandals were named to All-Conference teams. The Vandals led the conference with eight selections for the second year in a row. The Big Sky announced All-Conference honors and individual awards on Thursday morning.
Witte became two-time Goalkeeper of the Year following a season with 10 wins, six shutouts, 58 saves and only 14 goals allowed. Witte ranks second in the conference with 1,440 minutes played, third with a goals against average of 0.875, second in total shutouts, and third with a save percentage of 0.806. Witte has allowed more than one goal in only three games this season and recorded a season-high 11 saves in a 1-0 win at UNLV. Witte was also named to the second team.
Peters and Witte worked together for the 10 wins and six shutouts, but Peters was also an offensive threat leading the conference with eight assists on the season. Peters also leads the conference with 0.50 assists per game and is ranked No. 28 in the nation in both stat categories. In her 59
th appearance for the Vandals, she scored her first career goal at Portland State. Half of Peters' assists have been on game-winning goals, including the last-second goal against Northern Arizona in the final game of the regular season. Peters was the only unanimous selection on the First Team All-Conference ballot. Last season, she was named to the second team.
Peters is joined by
Jayd Sprague and
Jadyn Hanks on First Team All-Conference. Sprague was a consistent figure for the Vandals in the midfield, helping on both ends of the ball. She is one of the best when it comes to battling for balls in the air, scoring all four of her goals off headers. Sprague leads the team with three game-winning goals (UNLV, Idaho St. and Northern Arizona). She has played 1,350 minutes so far this season and has started every single game. This is Sprague's first time on the first team following a second team honor last season.
Hanks was named to the first team following a five-goal season. Hanks leads the Vandals with five goals, 49 shots, and 23 shots on goal as she has been a catalyst up front. She has also registered two assists on the season and has been a part of key moments that led to goals from other Vandals. Hanks has started every game for Idaho this season. She leads Idaho with a career-high 12 points.
Witte is joined by
Cassidy Elicker,
Rebekah Reyes, and
Margo Schoesler on the second team. The center back duo of Elicker and Reyes have started every game together this season. Elicker has played every single minute this season. The pair have held their opponents to only 14 goals this season and helped earn six shut outs. Elicker has two assists on the season, featuring an assist on the game-winner against Northern Colorado. Reyes recorded one assist on the season on the game-winner over Utah Tech.
In her fourth season for the Vandals, Schoesler earned her third All-Conference award. For the second straight season, she has earned a spot on the second team. Schoesler has registered nine points this season on two goals and five assists. She ranks second in the conference with 0.33 assists per game and third in total assists. Schoesler has started every game that she has appeared in this season, registering 942 minutes.
Hannah Alfaro caps off the awards with an honorable mention honor. The senior midfielder has started every game for the Vandals this season. She has scored more goals this season than she had previously in her entire career featuring a multi-goal game at CSUN. She has 10 points on the season with four goals and two assists. She has played 1,122 minutes this season. This is Alfaro's first All-Conference award in her career.
The Vandals are the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament and will face the winner of the quarterfinal match up of Portland State and Idaho State on November 3
rd at 2:00 p.m.
