PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a program-best conference finish, No. 21 Rutgers women's soccer saw a program-record seven Scarlet Knights receive All-Big Ten laurels, the league announced Friday.
 
"We are very proud and excited for our student-athletes who were honored by the Big Ten," said head coach Mike O'Neill. "To have the most student-athletes recognized in program history, especially in one of the top conferences in the country, is a testament to this team's hard work and dedication. We are a family and when one achieves, we all achieve so this is a great reflection of the program as a whole, as well as the individual."
 
Sophomore forward Amirah Ali (First Team), senior back Kenie Wright (Second Team), junior midfielder Nicole Whitley (Third Team), senior back Madison Pogarch (Third Team), junior defender Chantelle Swaby (Third Team), and freshman Meagan McClelland (Third Team) were named All-Big Ten. McClelland and classmate Shea Holland were selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team as well.
 
McClelland, who led the league in goals-against average and shutouts, was bestowed the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. It is the third straight year an RU rookie has claimed the honor and the fourth consecutive year earning at least one of the Big Ten's major awards. It is also just the second time in Big Ten women's soccer history that a school earned the honor in three consecutive seasons. 
 
Whitley earned Freshman of the Year in 2016 followed by Ali in 2017. It marks just the second time in Big Ten women's soccer history that a school has collected three in a row.
Overall, the seven all-conference honorees each played a vital role in guiding RU to a runner-up finish for the conference regular season title, as the second-place result marks the highest for the program since joining the league in 2014. It marks the highest total of Big Ten honorees for RU in program history.


 
Meagan McClelland | Fr. | Goalkeeper
Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Third Team All-Big Ten
Big Ten All-Freshman
 
Meagan McClelland led the conference in GAA (0.60) and shutouts (8) across 1,785 minutes in net. Her GAA ranks 27th in the nation, while she sits at fourth in the NCAA in goalie minutes played and 22nd in shutouts.
 
The Kearny, New Jersey, native posted five shutouts in league action, maintaining a Big Ten leading 0.48 GAA in conference games only. All five of those clean sheets contributed to Rutgers' unbeaten mark of 6-0-3 in league overtime matches.
 
Additionally, McClelland collected four weekly honors on the year, being named both the Big Ten Goalkeeper and Freshman of the Week to close the season. She became just the second Scarlet Knight to earn two weekly honors in a single week.
 

Amirah Ali | So. | Forward
First Team All-Big Ten
 
Amirah Ali paced the league in total goals (10), game-winning goals (5), and finished second in total points (23). Of her five game-winners, a total that sits at 14th in the NCAA, four were golden goals in conference play.
 
The forward netted four golden goals in OT and assisted another in a program-record six extra time victories, all of which came in Big Ten play. Overall, the Voorhees, New Jersey, native had a hand in seven of RU's 12 conference goals to help lead the Scarlet Knights to their best league finish in program history.
 
Last season, Ali was named the 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, earning Third Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Freshman, and All-Region Second Team, as well.
 

Kenie Wright | Sr. | Back
Second Team All-Big Ten
Sportsmanship Award Honoree
 
Kenie Wright anchored a defense that registered eight shutouts overall and five shutouts in conference play. The Scarlet Knights' 0.60 GAA led the Big Ten and ranked 25th in the nation.
 
Offensively, Wright finished second on the team with five assists, aiding two game-winners in conference play.
 
The co-captain was also named the Sportsmanship Award Honoree. She brings her conference accolade total to three, having earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team status as a rookie.
 

Nicole Whitley | Jr. | Midfielder
Third Team All-Big Ten
 
Nicole Whitley finished first on the team and second in the league with seven assists on the season. Two of those assists were on game winners in Big Ten overtime contests for the Scarlet Knights.
 
The midfielder also added three goals, one of which came as a golden goal in RU's NCAA record matching 11th overtime and program-record sixth overtime win on the road at Michigan State.
 
Whitley, who was named the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, picks up her third all-conference honor. She also earned Third Team and All-Freshman status in 2016.
 
 
Madison Pogarch | Sr. | Back
Third Team All-Big Ten
 
In her first season as a Scarlet Knight, Madison Pogarch started all 18 contests on the season. Pogarch, who was a candidate for the 2018 Senior CLASS Award, aided the back line in holding opponents to three or less shots on goal in 10 out of 18 matches.
 
The Hartland, Michigan, native earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping RU post two overtime shutouts against then-No. 14 Northwestern and Illinois. Both of those games ended in victory, fueling the Scarlet Knights' 6-0-5 overall overtime record this season.
 
Pogarch picks up an all-conference honor for the fourth straight season, transferring to RU as a two-time All-MAC recipient and All-Freshman selection.  
 

Chantelle Swaby | Jr. | Back
Third Team All-Big Ten
 
Chantelle Swaby started 10 of 11 matches for RU, missing seven to compete with the Jamaican Women's National Team. Swaby's presence was felt in three of RU's shutouts, as well as four Big Ten overtime victories.
 
The West Hartford, Connecticut, native helped guide Jamaica to the nation's first-ever World Cup bid. Following Jamaica's victory in the CONCACAF third-place match to secure the spot, Swaby returned to the RU lineup the next day to aid the back line in a 1-0, OT win at Michigan State.
 
Swaby picks up All-Big Ten status for the second straight year, having been named to the Second Team in 2017.


Shea Holland | Fr. | Back
Big Ten All-Freshman
 
Shea Holland saw action in all 18 games a as rookie, starting 13 of those contests. Holland made an immediate impact with the back line, playing 1,183 minutes for an average of 65 minutes a game.
 
Holland assisted the defense in posting a 0.48 GAA in league games only, blanking five conference foes on the season.
 
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Twitter and Instagram (@RUAthletics) and on Facebook (Rutgers Athletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's soccer, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RUWSoccer), and on Facebook (Rutgers Women's Soccer). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.