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PORTLAND, Ore. – Fourteenth-year head coach
Marty Ziesemer was named Cascade Collegiate Conference co-Coach of the Year, as Corban's women's soccer team earned its second straight Champion of Character Award and six players were named as part of the all-conference team.
Monday's announcement from the conference office named junior
Katie Hanson (Salem, Ore.) and sophomore
Amanda Mendenhall (Windsor, Calif.) as part of the all-conference 1st team, while junior
Genessa Neeser (Pocatello, Idaho) and freshman
Emily Tsugawa (Gladstone, Ore.) were selected as part of the 2nd team. Rounding out the Warriors' honorees were seniors
Kacie Emerick (Bellingham, Wash.) and
Jessica Matthews (Yelm, Wash.), as the duo was named honorable mention all-conference.
Ziesemer, who holds a career win-loss record of 156-135-15 and ranks just outside the Top 15 all-time in NAIA history, led Corban to a 9-7-3 record this season that included a 6-2-1 mark in conference play. The Ziesemer-led Warriors finished third overall in the final conference standings and put together a seven-game unbeaten streak before falling to eventual conference champions Concordia in the semifinals. This is Ziesemer's third Coach of the Year award after earning a pair of National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) awards in 2000 and 2002.
The Warriors were awarded their second straight Champions of Character Award based on the NAIA's three areas of integrity, respect and sportsmanship.
Hanson, who was a co-captain for the Warriors this season, finished second on the team in both goals (5) and assists (3) while concluding her third season with 13 points. Hanson tied for the team lead in game-winning goals with two, including netting the eventual game-winner against Northwest that helped Corban extend its winning streak to five straight games.
Mendenhall, who earned her second straight all-conference honor, led the Warriors in points with 16 and tied for the team lead in goals with six. The second-year midfielder also handed out a team-leading four assists, while netting a pair of game-winning goals.
Neeser, who was the catalyst of Corban's defense, played in all 19 games that included 18 starts and registered one goal, one assist, and eight points from her outside defender position.
Tsugawa, who was one of two freshman to be named to the all-conference team, tied for the team lead in goals with six and finished second in both points (15) and assists (3). The first-year Warrior scored four of her six goals in conference play and registered a team-leading 23 shots on goals this season.
Emerick, who is one of four Warriors that donned the navy and gold for four seasons, concluded her final campaign at Corban with one goal, three assists, and five points. The senior midfielder handed out all three assists during conference play, while scoring her lone goal against D-II member Western Oregon.
Matthews, who was named co-captain of the Warriors, concluded her final campaign at Corban with three goals, three assists, and nine points. The four-year forward led the team in total shots with 45, while finishing second in shots on goal with 22 and tied for the team lead in game-winning goals with two.
Over the past two seasons, Corban has had 10 players named to the all-conference team. This is the second time in the past five seasons that the Warriors have had six players honored on the season-ending team.