MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Seven Wisconsin Lutheran College women's soccer student-athletes received postseason recognition from the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, the league announced on Thursday.
Senior
Anna Ruchti (Pewaukee, Wis.) and juniors
Ginny Shade (Thornton, Colo.) and
Ava Zarling (Jackson, Wis.) were named Second Team All-NACC, while juniors
Morgan Bluhm (New Berlin, Wis.),
Aubrey Koch (Milwaukee, Wis.),
Sam Schroeder (Brookfield, Wis.), and freshman
Gracie Schmidt (Cedar Grove, Wis.) earned NACC Honorable Mention honors.
The seven all-conference selections are the most for the Warriors since 2002.
Ruchti started all 17 games she played in for WLC and anchored a defensive unit that allowed a league-low 10 goals and a 0.560 goals-against average per game. She also contributed offensively with one goal and one assist. The award marks the first All-NACC honor of Ruchti's career.
Shade earned the second all-conference accolade of her career after starting 10 of 16 games played. She tied for the team lead in goals, assists, and points, totaling eight goals and six assists for 22 points. Shade recorded 33 shots, including 21 on goal, scored two game-winning goals, and finished a perfect 3-for-3 on penalty-kick opportunities.
Zarling also collected her second career All-NACC honor after starting 12 of 13 games played. She tied Shade for the team lead with eight goals, six assists, and 22 points. Zarling registered 34 shots, including 23 on goal, and scored three game-winning goals, which ranked third in the NACC.
Bluhm received her first career all-conference recognition after a strong junior season in which she started nine of 17 games played. She recorded eight goals and three assists for 19 points, tying for the team lead in goals. Bluhm led Wisconsin Lutheran with 51 shots, 30 shots on goal, and four game-winning goals. Her 30 shots on goal ranked fifth in the NACC, while her four game-winners were second-most in the conference.
Koch earned the second All-NACC honor of her career after starting 16 of 18 games played on the Warriors' back line. She helped WLC post the NACC's top defensive numbers, as Wisconsin Lutheran allowed a league-low 10 goals and a 0.560 goals-against average per game.
Schmidt made an immediate impact during her freshman season, earning her first career All-NACC award. She started 10 of 18 games played and finished with seven goals and two assists for 16 points. Schmidt totaled 32 shots, including 25 on goal. She also scored two game-winning goals.
Schroeder rounded out the Warriors' honorees with the first All-NACC recognition of her career. The junior goalkeeper started all 16 games she played in and tied for second in the NACC with six shutouts. Schroeder allowed just 10 goals, the second fewest in the conference, and posted a 0.690 goals-against average, also second-lowest in the league. She faced 144 shots, made 44 saves, and finished with an 11-5-0 record.
WLC, which earned a spot in the NACC Tournament for the third consecutive year, concluded its season with a 13-5-0 overall record and an 8-4-0 mark in the NACC. Wisconsin Lutheran set a school record for victories and matched its most conference wins in 25 years.
