Badgers celebrate seniors and season at end-of-year banquet

Photo by: Brandon Harrison

Badgers celebrate seniors and season at end-of-year banquet

December 14, 2015 | Women's Soccer

senior class recognized, team awards given out at banquet

MADISON, Wis. – There was plenty for the Wisconsin women's soccer team to celebrate at its season-ending banquet on Sunday, as the Badgers recognized their senior class and the accomplishments of the team, including a share of the Big Ten regular season championship.

It had been over two decades since the UW women's soccer program won a Big Ten regular season title... that was until the 2015 squad decided the wait had been long enough. With a 1-0 win at Maryland on Oct. 24, the Badgers clinched a share of the program's first Big Ten regular season crown since 1994.

A key component of this season's championship run was UW's six-player senior class, which was made up of Nikki Greenhalgh, Marisa Kresge, Molly Laufenberg, Kinley McNicoll, McKenna Meuer and Brianna Stelzer. It's safe to say the group took the program to new levels, combining for 62 wins, two NCAA tournament appearances and two Big Ten titles.

In addition to celebrating its senior class and Big Ten championship, head coach Paula Wilkins handed out individual team awards that were voted on by the players themselves.

2015 Wisconsin Soccer Team Awards
- Most Valuable Player: McKenna Meuer
- Offensive Player of the Year: Rose Lavelle
- Defensive Player of the Year: Brianna Stelzer
- Most Improved Player: Holly Heckendorf
- Unsung Hero: Caitlyn Clem

Wisconsin was led by 2015 Big Ten Coach of the Year Paula Wilkins, who guided a team to a Big Ten regular season title for the seventh time in her career. Wilkins also surpassed the milestone of 100 career Big Ten wins this season (103). She became only the second Big Ten Coach of the Year in program history, joining Dean Duerst in 1996.

Rose Lavelle became the first player in program history to be named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, after the junior recorded a team-high 17 points on seven goals and three assists during the 2015 season. One of 15 semifinalists for the 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy, Lavelle was also named a first-team All-American by the NSCAA, the first at Wisconsin since 1991. She also earned All-Great Lakes Region honors from the NSCAA. Lavelle was the only unanimous All-Big Ten first team selection, marking the third-straight season she earned first team All-Big Ten honors.

It didn't take long for newcomer Victoria Pickett to make her presence known in Madison. The midfielder was named 2015 Big Ten Freshman of the Year after tallying eight points on two goals and four assists in 16 games. Just the second Badger to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year (joining Lavelle), Pickett also earned thirdteam All-Great Lakes Region honors, second-team All-Big Ten honors and was on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Pickett was tabbed as Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Oct. 13, becoming the first Badger to receive the award since teammate Kylie Schwarz in 2013.

In addition to three individual Big Ten honorees, Wisconsin saw senior defender Brianna Stelzer and sophomore goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem rewarded with All-Big Ten second team selection. It marked the second-straight season Stelzer earned All-Big Ten second team accolades.

Senior forward Nikki Greenhalgh was named to the 2015 Big Ten All-Tournament Team after she scored a goal for the Badgers in their quarterfinal game against Ohio State. It marked the fifth goal of her career.

Junior midfielder Micaela Powers was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27 after she scored the game-winning goal -- the first of her career -- to lift the Badgers past Maryland, 1-0, and clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title.

One of the best defenders in the country, senior defender Brianna Stelzer was named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region third team for the second-straight season. She was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6.

Under Paula Wilkins, Wisconsin won 10 or more games in a season for a school record seventh-straight season. The Badgers also won five or more Big Ten games for the seventh year in a row, which also stands as a school-record streak.