IWU Names Goergen as Women’s Soccer “Most Valuable”

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Junior defensive player Ashley Goergen has been chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the 2005 Illinois Wesleyan women’s soccer team.

Goergen (Geneva HS) led a defense that allowed only 0.94 goals per game during the Titans’ 13-7-1 season as the women’s team became the first IWU soccer team to be selected to play in the NCAA Division III postseason tournament.

In other team awards, sophomore Meghan Rynne (Oak Forest, Marian Catholic HS) was chosen as the team’s “Most Improved Player” and junior goalkeeper Emily Castner (Elgin, Larkin HS) and Goergen were elected to be co-captains for the 2006 squad.

Rynne played in 14 games this season and issued eight shots including four shots on goal.
Castner made 69 saves and allowed 0.94 goals per game with eight shutouts for the Titans, who were ranked as high as No. 21 in the country in Division III at one point of the season.
In her career Castner has a 1.06 goals-against average and 19 shutouts, just three away from the school record of 22 held by Alicia Heeger.

Seniors Katie Kelly and Mary Karson were elected to the all-Central region squad chosen by members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America with Kelly earning second team honors and Karson third.
Kelly (Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville South HS) led the Titans in scoring with 27 points on 12 goals with three assists. She finished her career second all-time in IWU records with 118 points and 52 goals and No. 9 with 14 career assists.
Karson (St. Charles HS) had four points on two goals this season and ranks No. 9 all-time in scoring with 55 points and is No. 7 with 24 career goals.

With still one season to play, junior Lyndsay O’Brien (Peoria, Notre Dame HS) became the IWU all-time assist leader with 25 and ranks tied for No. 9 with 55 career points. This season she was second on the team with 21 points, including six goals and nine assists.

Head coach David Barrett awarded 21 letters to women's soccer players, including 17 to players who will return next season. The letterwinners are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS – Mary Karson (St. Charles HS), Katie Kelly (Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville So. HS), Brittany Kirkpatrick (Lakeville, Minn. HS), Jennifer LaBrenz (Kalamazoo Mich., Central HS).
JUNIORS - Emily Castner (Elgin, Larkin HS), Ashley Goergen (Geneva HS), Katie Korder (Urbana HS), Lyndsay O’Brien (Peoria, Notre Dame HS), Eileen Ouska (Skokie, Niles West HS), Amy Slott (Oswego HS).
SOPHOMORES – Taryn Hegi (Wheaton, North HS), Megan Rynne (Oak Forest, Marian Catholic HS), Carrie Walz (Bloomington, Ill; Browning [Utah] Academy).
FRESHMEN – Sarah Alley (Zionsville, Ind. HS), Carly Calkins (Park Ridge, Maine South HS), Christin Coffey (Park Ridge, Maine South HS), Tanya Hnastchenko (Shorewood, Minn., Minnetonka HS), Caroline Leighton (Bloomington, Normal Community HS), Carissa Nemmers (Dubuque, Iowa, Hempstead HS), Jordan Pollack (Woodridge, Downers Grove South HS), Tina Rodriguez (Simi Valley, Calif., Royal HS).