Four Scarlet Knights Named All-Big Ten
Nov 04 | Women's Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. (Nov. 4, 2014) - The Big Ten Conference released its 2014 all-conference teams Tuesday afternoon, as the No. 23/19 Rutgers women's soccer team had four players honored.
Junior back Brianne Reed (Tinton Falls, N.J.) headlined the Scarlet Knights as a First Team All-Big Ten selection. Junior midfielder Hayley Katkowski (Westford, Mass.) and classmate Erica Skroski (Galloway, N.J.) were each named Second Team All-Big Ten, while rookie goalkeeper Casey Murphy (Bridgewater, N.J.) received Big Ten All-Freshman Team laurels.
For the second consecutive season, Rutgers had four players named all-conference. Reed, Skroski and Murphy were each honored for the first time in their careers. Katkowski collected her third all-conference recognition, also earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team and Rookie Team in 2012.
Redshirt junior Amanda DeVolk (Frisco, Texas) was honored as the Scarlet Knights' Big Ten Women's Soccer Sportsmanship Award winner.
"When you play in a conference like the Big Ten, one of the top conferences in the country, to receive recognition makes us very proud," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "We're very proud of them, and we think it speaks volumes for the team anytime players are recognized. Soccer is a team game - these awards are a reflection of the team and the individual.
"Being recognized individually by your peers is pretty special. At the same time, this recognition is so important to the team and to the University."
Junior Back Brianne Reed - First Team All-Big Ten
Reed is the first Scarlet Knight defender to earn first team all-conference honors since Jennifer Anzivino was placed on the All-BIG EAST First Team in 2009. She is part of a Rutgers defense that has allowed just nine goals this season and posted 10 shutouts.
The Red Bank Catholic product has logged the full 90 minutes in 13 of 17 matches, having started the last 39 possible contests for Rutgers dating back to the start of the 2013 season.
The junior has also enjoyed a career season offensively with four points on a goal and two assists. She notched RU's lone goal in the 1-1 draw at Nebraska on Sept. 25.
"For Brianne to make the first team is pretty special," O'Neill said. "She will always be remembered as our first player to make a Big Ten First Team."
Junior Back Erica Skroski and Junior Midfielder Hayley Katkowski - Second Team All-Big Ten
The other center back piece of the Scarlet Knights' stout back line, Skroski earned her first all-conference recognition after being named a Big Ten Women's Soccer Player to Watch in the preseason. Skroski has started all 17 matches and played the full match length 14 times.
Katkowski has long been RU's unsung hero in the midfield, having started 61 consecutive games for Rutgers dating back to 2012. The Westford Academy product tallied the first points of her career earlier this season with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win against Purdue (Oct. 5).
The Scarlet Knights placed two players on an all-conference second team for the second-straight year.
"The Big Ten is a conference that is deep in talent," O'Neill said. "For Erica and Hayley to make the second team, we're very happy for them and happy for the team."
Freshman Goalkeeper Casey Murphy - Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Murphy has enjoyed a record season in her first year "On the Banks." Not only is the Bridgewater-Raritan product second in the Big Ten in GAA (0.52), save percentage (.857) and shutouts (nine), she has the best GAA and save percentage of any rookie keeper in program history.
After posting four consecutive shutouts earlier this season, including a clean sheet against then-No. 6/7 Penn State, Murphy hauled in two-straight Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors (Oct. 13 and 6).
Rutgers has had at least one all-rookie honoree in each of the last three seasons.
"Casey has had an unbelievable freshman year," O'Neill said. "It's special for her to be recognized for everything that she's put into it."
Redshirt Junior Forward Amanda DeVolk - Sportsmanship Award Honoree
The student-athletes chosen for the Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Award shall be individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and must have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
DeVolk is playing at a career level in 2014, having started 15 of the squad's 17 matches. She has two goals and two assists for six points in her final season in a Scarlet Knight uniform.
"The sportsmanship award embodies on the field and off the field behavior, character in the classroom, and that's who Amanda is," O'Neill said. "It is a great award for Amanda because it's not just what you do on the soccer field."
As the No. 4 seed, RU begins the Big Ten Conference Tournament tomorrow at 10:30 am. against No. 5 Iowa. The match will be broadcast live on BTN Plus.
2014 WOMEN'S SOCCER ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL HONORS
Coach of the Year: Erica Walsh, Penn State
Forward of the Year: JANNELLE FLAWS, Illinois
Midfielder of the Year: Raquel Rodriguez, Penn State
Defender of the Year: Whitney Church, Penn State
Goalkeeper of the Year: Genevieve Richard, Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Emily Ogle, Penn State
Megan Green, Sr., Illinois
Marissa Borschke, So., Indiana
Caitlin Brown, Sr., Iowa
Sarah Fichtner, Jr., Maryland
Jennifer Pace, Sr., Michigan
Nicole Caruso, Sr., Michigan State
Jen Larrick, Jr., Minnesota
Samantha Areman, Sr., Nebraska
Jennifer Korn, Jr., Northwestern
Ellyn Gruber, Sr., Ohio State
Kindrah Kohne, Sr., Penn State
Mikayla Lasky, So., Purdue
Amanda DeVolk, Jr., Rutgers
Molly Laufenberg, Jr., Wisconsin
| FIRST TEAM | |
| Forward | JANNELLE FLAWS, Illinois Cloe Lacasse, Iowa Nicky Waldeck, Michigan Cara Walls, Wisconsin |
| Midfield | Raquel Rodriguez, Penn State Rose Lavelle, Wisconsin Kinley McNicoll, Wisconsin |
| Defense | Melanie Pickert, Iowa Whitney Church, Penn State Brianne Reed, Rutgers |
| Goalkeeper | Genevieve Richard, Wisconsin |
| SECOND TEAM | |
| Forward | Mayme Conroy, Nebraska Addie Steiner, Northwestern Frannie Crouse, Penn State |
| Midfield | Corinne Harris, Michigan Emily Hurd, Penn State Hayley Katkowski, Rutgers |
| Defense | Mary Kathryn Fiebernitz, Michigan State Kori Chapic, Penn State Erica Skroski, Rutgers Brianne Stelzer, Wisconsin |
| Goalkeeper | Britt Eckerstrom, Penn State |
| ALL-FRESHMEN TEAM | |
| Forward | Ani Sarkisian, Michigan Jamie Cheslik, Michigan State Frannie Crouse, Penn State |
| Midfield | Rachel McCloskey, Minnesota Nikki Walts, Ohio State EMILY OGLE, Penn State |
| Defense | Sydney Elinsky, Illinois TAYLOR TIMKO, Michigan Nikia Smith, Northwestern Maddie Elliston, Penn State |
| Goalkeeper | Casey Murphy, Rutgers |
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
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