EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – UW-Eau Claire soccer coach Sean Yengo recently announced the winners of the annual team awards at the year-end banquet.
Alyssa Walker (Sr.-Madison, Wis./West) was named the team's most valuable player. Walker, a defender and team captain, helped the Blugolds hold opponents to just 164 shots and 22 goals, while recording eight shutouts on the season, a mark that ranked second in the WIAC. She played in 18 games, starting 14 of them.
Offensive player of the year honors went to Paige LeGate (So.-Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) while Emily Moore (Jr.-Brookfield, Wis./Central) won defensive player of the year honors.
LeGate led the Blugolds this season with 17 points coming from a team-high seven goals and three assists. She scored a team-best four game-winning goals, a mark that tied for third best in the conference, and accumulated 33 shots on the year.
Moore started all 20 games this season and was part of a strong Blugold defense.
Brittany Burant (Sr.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) was presented with the playmaker of the year award. Burant started all 20 games and tied for second on the team with 13 points. She had five goals and three assists, tying a team-high. Two of her goals were game-winners.
Most improved honors went to Teighlor Tvedt (Fr.-Verona, Wis./Verona Area) while she was also named the alumni freshman player of the year. Tvedt played in all 20 games this season, starting 11. She finished with one goal and one assist.
Sam Gilbert (Jr.-Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul) was named the practice player of the year. Gilbert picked up one assist, playing in 19 games. She started nine of them.
Abby Beinlich (So.-Madison, Wis./Memorial) earned the golden shoe award. Beinlich played in all 20 games, starting 12.
In the team's drill challenges, Blugolds receiving awards were: Burant (1v1 champion); Tvedt (heading challenge); Gilbert (long-range shooting& Blugold Olympics); Allie Stone (So.-Madison, Wis./Verona Area) (heading clearance challenge); Joan Mattheisen (Fr.-St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) (LRS/Heading challenge/1v1'sGoals Against Average/Champions league); Melissa Leister (Fr.-Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) (champions league); Beinlich, Gilbert, LeGate, Emily Turi (So.-North St. Paul, Minn.) (Blugold Fitness Finisher's club)
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