Nov. 15, 2005

Bay City, Mich. - The Grand Valley State Women's Soccer team continued its successful season by landing six players on the All-GLIAC team. Five Lakers earned first team honors, including Defender of the Year Kate Duda (Utica, Mich./Hillsdale) and Freshman of the Year Katy Tafler (Mississauga, Ont./Cawthra Park). Head Coach Dave DiIanni was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year after leading GVSU to a 7-1 GLIAC record and the school's first-ever GLIAC Championship.

Duda was a part of GVSU's defense that has allowed a GLIAC low ten goals en route to a school-best 19-2 record. She has appeared in all 21 of the Lakers matches and is part of a defense that ranks ninth in goals against in NCAA Division II. In addition to her defense, Duda assisted on two goals during the year.

Tafler currently leads the Lakers in goals scored (25) and points (58). She ranks second on the squad with eight assists. Tafler holds the GVSU single-season goals scored record and is tied for the total points record. Tafler finished the regular season seventh in NCAA Division II in points per game (2.95) and goals per game (1.26). She was named GLIAC Player of the Week three times during her freshman campaign (8/30, 10/31, 11/8).

DiIanni has led GVSU to a 51-9-2 (.839) record in his three seasons and has led the Lakers to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The Lakers 19-2 (.905) record this season will go down as the best in school history. DiIanni led the Lakers to their first-ever Great Lakes Regional Championship and improved his postseason record to 3-2. Grand Valley captured its first-ever GLIAC soccer championship this year posting a 7-1 league record.

Duda and Tafler were joined on the first team by senior forwards Jenny Swalec (St. Clair Shores, Mich./South Lake) and Mirela Tutundzic (Wyoming, Mich./Rogers). Junior midfielder Shannon Carrier (Plainwell, Mich.) was also named as an All-GLIAC First Team honoree.

Swalec has been named to the All-GLIAC team all four years during her career. She earned second team honors in 2002, 2003, and 2004 before being named to the first team in 2005. Swalec is just the second player in GVSU history to record 100 points in her career.

Tutundzic makes her fourth appearance on the All-GLIAC First Team leading the Lakers to a 19-2 record this season. Tutundzic ranks first in GVSU history in goals scored (75), assists (34), and total points (184). Tutundzic's 184 points is tied for 18th in NCAA Division II history.

This marks Carrier's first appearance on the All-GLIAC First Team after being named to the second team her freshman and sophomore years. Carrier has scored four goals and six assists on the year including the Lakers game winner in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against SIUE.

Sophomore defender Kourtney Willert (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Conant) was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team. Willert is part of a defense that has allowed in a GLIAC low 10 goals on the year and only four in GLIAC play. Willert tallied one goal on the season from her defender position.