Plenty to celebrate at end of year banquet
December 12, 2014 | Women's Soccer
Dec. 12, 2014
MADISON, Wis. - The 2014 Wisconsin women's soccer team is set to hold its end of the year banquet Friday evening, and the team has many accomplishments and awards to celebrate. In addition to the number of team records set by the group's inspired play, many individuals were also honored for their work both on and off the field.
Senior Genevieve Richard and sophomore Rose Lavelle were each named to 2014 NSCAA All-America teams and became the first Badgers to earn the distinction since the 2000 season. Lavelle was named to the second team, while Richard was named to the third team, as the pair of UW standouts became the 16 and 17 All-Americans in program history.
Joining Lavelle and Richard, three additional Badgers played their way onto 2014 NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region teams. Kinley McNicoll earned a spot on the second team for her impressive efforts in the midfield, and both Cara Walls and Brianna Stelzer were rewarded as members of the third team.
Aside from the players earning awards, associate head coach Tim Rosenfeld was recognized as the NSCAA Great Lakes Region Assistant Coach of the Year for his part in guiding the Badgers to the winningest season in school history. Working primarily with goalkeepers and strikers, Rosenfeld was instrumental in Richard becoming 2014 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.
In addition to national praise, numerous Badgers garnered Big Ten Conference awards. Richard was tabbed Goalkeeper of the Year after supporting a backline that recorded the Big Ten record for most shutouts in a season (18). She became just the second Badger to earn this distinction in program history.
Three UW players joined Richard on the conference's first team, including Lavelle, McNicoll and Walls. Stelzer rounded out the UW players honored and earned a place on the Big Ten's second team. Molly Laufenberg also earned the Big Ten's sportsmanship award for her performance and character on the field and in the classroom.
Following regular season conference honors, a trio of Badgers were recognized as members of the Big Ten's All-Tournament team after leading UW to its first tourney title since 2005. Richard was named the defensive MVP, while McNicoll was named the offensive MVP for her double overtime and tournament-winning goal. Walls was the third UW player to be named to the all-tournament team.
Although the awards recognizing various Badgers' play last season are impressive, the numerous academic accomplishments of the team were just as impressive.
Richard was named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District Team, becoming the first Badger to receive this distinction since 2005. Along with Richard, six additional Badgers were named to Big Ten all-academic teams. Players recognized include Jackie Gellings, Nikki Greenhalgh, Holly Heckendorf, Marisa Kresge, McKenna Meuer and Laufenberg.
In addition to the many individual awards, the 2014 Wisconsin women's soccer team played its way into record books this season thanks to its unique blend of talent and the unified determination from each player on the squad.
Big Ten Records
- Big Ten record for most shutouts in a season (18)
- Big Ten record for fewest goals allowed in a season (10); season average (.416, 10 in 24 games)
- Tied a Big Ten record for GAA in a season (0.40). Penn State also had a 0.40 GAA in 2000
- Genevieve Richard finished 2nd in Big Ten history for shutouts in a season (16)
- Genevieve Richard finished 2nd in Big Ten history for GAA in a season (0.42)
- Genevieve Richard finished T7th in Big Ten history for goals allowed in a season (10)
- Cara Walls finished T7th in Big Ten history for game-winning goals in a career (17)
Wisconsin Records
- Program record for most wins in a season (19)
- Program record for winning percentage in a season (.869, 19-3-2)
- Program record for shutouts in a season (18)
- T3rd in program history for longest streak of consecutive shutouts (7)
- T4th in program history for fewest losses in a season (3)
- 6th in program history for goal differential in a season (+34, 44 GF to 10 GA)
- Genevieve Richard 8th in program history for shutouts in a career (23)
- Genevieve Richard program record for shutouts in a season (16)
- Genevieve Richard 3rd in program history for GAA in a season (0.42)
- Cara Walls T4th in program history for goals in a season (14)
- Cara Walls T2nd in program history for goals in a career (42)
- Cara Walls program record for multi-goal games in a career (10)
- Rose Lavelle T6th in program history for assists in a season (10)
- Rose Lavelle T3rd in program history for assists in a single game (3, vs. South Dakota State)
