Nov. 17, 2009

Highland Heights, Ky. - Grand Valley State women's soccer team led the way with nine players selected to the 2009 Daktronics Division II Midwest Region Women's Soccer Teams. Five Lakers earned first team honors, while four received second team.

Defenders Megan Brown and Natalja Stanksi, midfielder Erin Mruz and forwards Ashley Botts and Irie Dennis were selected to the Midwest Region first team. Defenders Amber Bloem and Jenna Wenglinski, and midfielders Katie Johnson and Kristen Eible earned Midwest Region second team plaudits.

Sophomore Megan Brown was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the year and has been apart of an impressive backline that has only allowed 10 goals this season, averaging out to .47 goals-against per game. In large part because of her defense, GVSU ranks first in the GLIAC in shutout percentage (0.63) and has recorded 13 shutouts this season. The sophomore defender recorded a multi-point game on Sept. 4 in the 8-2 win over Missouri-St. Louis, where she recorded two assists. She has started all of GVSU's 22 games, playing 1643 minutes and notching five assists this year.

Senior defender Natalja Stanski received Second Team All-GLIAC honors this season, along with being selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV First Team. She has played in 21 games this year, playing in 1463 minutes. Stanski has been apart of a backline that has held opponents to just 55 shots on goal through 22 matches, just more than two shots on goal per contest. The senior has recorded two goals, along with three assists for a total of seven points. She has also put together a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in Biomedical Science.

Sophomore Erin Mruz has recorded a team-high 14 assists and has started all of GVSU's 22 games. She is currently tied for first in school history for assists in a season. The midfielder has notched two goals along with her 14 assists for a total of 18 points.

Freshman forward Ashley Botts was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year and has helped the No. 3 Lakers to an unbeaten 2009 regular season. In her first season, she leads the Lakers with 13 goals and 31 points. In the GLIAC she is second in goals, third in points and is tied for second with five game-winning goals. She leads GVSU with 81 shots, placing 38 of them on goal. The freshman forward recorded a multi-point game on Oct. 11 in the 5-0 win over Ashland, where she recorded two goals and an assist.

GVSU senior forward Irie Dennis was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Dennis has made a significant impact for the Lakers this year and during her career. She has started all 22 games for Grand Valley State, playing in 1279 minutes. Dennis has notched six goals and six assists for a total of 18 points this season and has helped the No. 3 Lakers to a 19-0-3, 13-0-1 GLIAC record. She has posted an astounding record of 77-3-5 in her four years at GVSU. She is currently fifth in GVSU history with 28 assists, sixth with 30 goals and sixth with 88 points during her career. Dennis has also notched 11 game-winning goals in a Laker uniform the past four years. She has also been recognized for her academics, as she was recently named a member of the 2009 ESPN The Magazine All-District IV Academic Second Team.

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The team is voted on by the members of College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), with voting powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM. Members of the Midwest Region first team are eligible for the 2009 Daktronics Division II All-American Women's Soccer team, to be announced Dec. 1.