OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Association of Division III Independents announced the 2013 All-Independent Women's Soccer teams were announced last week, featuring five Mount Mary University student-athletes.

"In what was a very tough season to deal with losing two of our key members five games into the year with season ending injuries, losing our No. 2 scoring option for two weeks with a knee injury and losing our starting keeper for three weeks with a concussion, I am pleased that we still were able to get five members of our team to be recognized as All-Conference," second-year head coach Joe Shokatz said. "It shows the determination and passion that these girls have."

This year's injury-ravaged Blue Angels squad struggled to score after entering the season with high hopes. After going 8-7 the year before, Mount Mary played several games down two or three players but battled to a 4-16 overall record.

Sophomore forward/defender Emily Ristow (Sheboygan, Wis.) led the Blue Angels all season and again in the all-league voting, both being named to the All-AD3I Second Team. Ristow was the 2012 AD3I Player of the Year, but being forced into a different role this season, her numbers couldn't hold up to those around the AD3I.

"Emily made the biggest sacrifice of all—giving up scoring to play defense to just keep us competitive in games," Shokatz said.  "She scored 33 goals last year as a forward and only was able to get 12 in the back of the net this season, while spending 14 games playing sweeper. She would often play offense for 5 minutes a game, and still managed to score in those brief opportunities."

"There is little doubt in my mind that she is the best player in AD3I, yet our record and lack of scoring really makes it hard for teams that don't see her play to understand that. To go from Player of the Year to Second Team is a huge disappointment, but given our poor record, is hard to argue. I really look forward to being able to play her up top next year, and with this as motivation, will really inspire her to regain her Player of the Year accolades."

It was a similar story for senior goalkeeper Ashley Leverenz (Mauston, Wis.) who saw by far the most shots in the Association, but her goals-against-per-game average was a bit inflated playing against a handful of extra offenders.

"I can't say enough about Ashley," Shokatz said. "She was our 3-year captain and a leader beyond any player I have ever coached. She will be missed.  While she gave up a lot of goals, she made more saves than anyone in AD3I. I think this is one of the disappointments that I had in the voting.  I think she is the best keeper in the conference and the goals she gave up were due more to playing a man or two down than her ability."

Junior defender Nina Her (Brown Deer, Wis.) and junior forward Rasika Perera (Oak Creek, Wis.) both also battled injuries, yet  both earned a spot alongside Leverenz and Ristow on the Second Team.

"While Ras struggled through injuries, she was the one target forward we had and often times the lone forward," Shokatz said. "If we would have had Emily up top, her numbers would have been better. Her ability to possess the ball by herself was important to us to give our defense a rest, which was often on its heels in several matches."

"Nina only played 5 or 6 games, but still was more than worthy of all conference recognition," Shokatz said. "She is our defense, and with her we are a formidable team.  Without her we struggled mightily."

The final MMU selection was senior midfielder Vanessa Schellinger (West Bend, Wis.) who also earned a Second Team nod from the AD3I. Schellinger had a very busy fall season, earning All-AD3I Second Team honors in cross country as well.

"I'm very happy for her in her senior season to be recognized for all of her hard work and dedication the last two years," Shokatz said.  "Being named All-Conference in both soccer and cross country is a very remarkable accomplishment."

Sophomore forward Shannon Fahy from St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while senior defender Antonia Darragh from UC-Santa Cruz was the AD3I Defensive Player of the Year.

UC-Santa Cruz freshman midfielder Megan Carey earned Rookie of the Year honors, while her coach, Emily Scheese, took home Coach of the Year honors in her second season at the helm.

The women's soccer coaches and team representatives from the Association of Division III Independents member schools selected the All-Independent Women's Soccer teams.

2013 All-Association of Division III Independents Soccer Teams

FIRST TEAM
Forward – Shannon Fahy, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn)
Forward – Justine Dougherty, Senior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Forward – Amber Johnson, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Midfielder – Chay Thomas, Senior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Midfielder – Harmony Lorch, Sophomore, Maranatha Baptist Bible College
Midfielder – Courtney Dunn, Freshman, Maranatha Baptist Bible College
Midfielder – Pam Chernyakhovsky, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn)
Midfielder – Megan Carey, Freshman, University of California, Santa Cruz
Defender – Antonia Darragh, Senior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Defender – Amanda Cameron, Junior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Defender – Rachel Gordon, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Goalkeeper – Gabby Trujillo, Sophomore, University of California, Santa Cruz

SECOND TEAM
Forward – Emily Ristow, Sophomore, Mount Mary University
Forward – Natascha Vinz, Freshman, Maranatha Baptist Bible College
Forward – Sarah Sadler, Junior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Forward – Rasika Perera, Junior, Mount Mary University
Forward – Ashlee Slade, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Midfielder – Elizabeth Kaufman, Junior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Midfielder – Vanessa Schellinger, Senior, Mount Mary University
Defender – Nina Her, Junior, Mount Mary University
Defender – Alexis Dracker, Junior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Defender – Shelby Knorr, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University 
Goalkeeper – Ashley Leverenz, Senior, Mount Mary University
Goalkeeper – Michala Marino, Sophomore, Maranatha Baptist Bible College

The Association of Division III Independents consists of seven Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of eight other sports this year.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at d3independents.org.