Women's Soccer | 11/18/2010 4:50:03 PM

Wolf Soccer Season Summary
The lady Wolves completed their 2010 season with a 3-15 overall record and a 2-12 Great Northwest Athletic Conference record placing them eighth in the conference. Despite have their difficulties throughout the season, the Wolves were able to distinguish themselves from the rest in the conference. Western Oregon tied for first place in the GNAC soccer academic team by having nine student-athletes who were all at a grade point average above 3.20 and were in their second year or more of competition at Western. Another WOU accomplishment was created by sophomore Marina Austin, who was selected for the All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference second team as a forward. As a team, Western placed fourth in the conference for shots taken and fourth in saves. WOU continued their all-time series lead against Northwest Nazarene (19-7-2) and Central Washington (13-9-4).

Brains and Skills
Nine players from WOU represented our University well by studying and playing hard to make the GNAC soccer academic team. Macy Bothman, Cori Young, Naomi Shimabuku, Ciara Peterson, Kelsie Blachly, Chelsy Okuma, Rachelle Kliewer, Monique Thees, and Kymberly Witmer all had GPAs above 3.20. Sophomore Macy Bothman, a physical education major, had the highest GPA for the Wolves. For seniors Kelsie Blachly, an art major, and Naomi Shimabuku, an exercise science major, this was their third season making the academic team. Cori Young and Monique Thees were second season academic all-stars. Macy Bothman, Ciara Peterson, Chelsy Okuma, Rachelle Kliewer and Kymberly Witmer all earned the honor in their first season of eligibility. The nine GNAC academic selections are the most ever for Western Oregon, beating last year's record of eight the Wolves placed on the academic team in 2009.

Austin earned spot on All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference team
Marina Austin was selected by the conference coaches to the All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference second team as a forward.

Austin is a sophomore who hails from Olympia, Wash. (Olympia High School). She led Western Oregon with three assists and five goals. Austin ranked fifth in the GNAC with 3.06 shots per game. Four of her five goals came in conference play, including the game-winner against Central Washington. She started all 18 games for the Wolves and had a .455 shot on goal percentage with 55 shots total.

Austin was joined on the all-conference team by honorable mention selections Brittney Rigtrup (Renton, Wash./Hazen) and Naomi Shimabuku (Aiea, Hawaii/Moanalua). Rigtrup finished fourth in the conference with 75 saves while Shimabuku earned the honor for her defensive prowess. This was the fourth straight season Shimabuku has been named as an honorable mention selection on the all-conference team and the second straight for Rigtrup.

Run at the records
The Wolves had movement within their record books as a number of individuals either moved up or earned their first entry in the books. Brittney Rigtrup ascended to fourth place on the all-time saves list with 222. She is just 12 short of third place and 36 behind second place with one year of eligibility remaining. Kelsie Blachly completed her Western Oregon career with 187 saves, which ranks her fifth in school history. Blachly and Rigtrup are also listed on the all-time list for career shutouts. Rigtrup is tied for third all-time with six shutouts, while Blachly is tied for fifth with four. Marina Austin also joined a select group of WOU student-athletes with two or more goals in the same match. Meanwhile, Kymberly Witmer and LaChante Horton joined the other group of elite Wolves to have multiple assists in a match.

Farwell to Seniors
Western Oregon has five seniors finishing their WOU soccer careers this 2010 season. Jill Petersen, Rachelle Kliewer, Kelsie Blachly, Naomi Shimabuku, and Cori Young will all be missed in the coming 2011 season. Petersen, Shimabuku, Blachly and Young were all four-year letterwinners for WOU.

No.8 Jill Petersen, a forward from Clackamas, Ore., played in all 18 this season and started in 15. She had one goal, two assists, and 10 shots for the season. Petersen has played all four years at WOU competing in 78 games, scoring three goals (two game-winning), making two assists, and taking 42 shots (24 on goal).

No.22 Rachelle Kliewer, a forward hailing from Tualatin, Ore., competed in 16 games and started in 14. She had one goal, two assists, and 20 shots for the season. Has been with WOU for two years and has managed to play in 36 games, score eight goals (2 game-winning), and take 77 shots (45 on goal).

No.1 Kelsie Blachly, a goal keeper from Gresham, Ore., played five games this season and started in four and she had 22 saves total. Blachly has competed in 50 games, with four shutouts, and made 187 saves total during her four year career at WOU.

No.2 Naomi Shimabuku, a midfielder from Aiea, Hawaii, started and played in all 18 games of this season. Shimabuku is a four year veteran who competed in 72 matches, scored one game-winning goal, had two assists, and 24 shots total.

No. 6 Cori Young, a midfielder from Gresham, Ore., played in all 18 games and started in 12. She had 10 shots for the season. Young, another loyal four year veteran, competed in 67 games, scoring one goal, having five assists, and 33 shots (21 on goal) total.