Three Ferris State Soccer Standouts Garner D2CCCA All-Region Accolades
Big Rapids, Mich. - Three members of the Ferris State University women's soccer team, which has advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen, have garnered All-Midwest Region recognition from the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCCA).
The Bulldogs' honorees in voting by the nation's sports information directors included a first-team selection in junior defender Tia VanSuilichem (Caledonia) along with a pair of second-team honorees in sophomore midfielder Bri Rogers (Livonia) and freshman forward Pia Nagel (Karlsruhe, Germany).
Presently, VanSuilichem has tallied 11 points on five goals and an assist in 23 contests as one of the country's top defensive players. She's notched 40 shots and holds a game-winner this year as a starter on the back end.
Meanwhile, Rogers has played in 21 contests and totaled 12 points with six goals. Her performance includes 52 shots, two game-winning goals and a perfect team-leading three-of-three mark in penalty kicks.
Finally, Nagel has had an outstanding freshman campaign to date for the Bulldogs with a team-high tying 23 points on 10 goals and three assists while starting all 23 games. Overall, she's totaled 56 shots and has set a school single-season record with seven game-winning scores.
The Bulldogs are currently in the midst of the winningest season in program history with a 17-3-3 record and will finish with multipe school records such as the most wins, fewest losses, highest winning percentage, best road record, most goals scored and most shutouts in a single campaign. This year also marks the first time the Bulldog squad has ever had three different goalkeepers record at least one shutout.
In addition, FSU has been nationally ranked for most of the season, which is the first time in the program's 20-year history FSU has ranked among the nation's top 25 teams.
Ferris State is headed to the NCAA Midwest Regional Final to take on the nationally top-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers as one of the final 16 teams remaining in play in Division II this Friday (Nov. 16) in Allendale.
The Bulldogs finished second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics (GLIAC) Regular Season standings, the highest finish in program history before making their first-ever appearance in the GLIAC Tournament Championship game.
2018 D2CCA NCAA Division II Women's Soccer All-Midwest Region Teams
First Team
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown
GK Zoe Brochu McKendree Jr. Ajax, Ontario, Canada
D Cecilia Steinwascher Grand Valley So. Sterling Heights, Mich.
D Tia VanSuilichem Ferris State Jr. Caledonia, Mich.
D Madz Ham Grand Valley Sr. Lake Orion, Mich.
D Madelyne Juenger Southern Indiana So. Columbia, Ill.
MF Riko Sagara Grand Valley Jr. Tokyo, Japan
MF Tara Lierman Grand Valley Sr. Holt, Mich.
MF Molly Vanderhoff Saginaw Valley Jr. Sterling Heights, Mich.
MF 2018 D2CCA NCAA Division II Women's Soccer All-Midwest Region Teams
First Team
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown
GK Zoe Brochu McKendree Jr. Ajax, Ontario, Canada
D Cecilia Steinwascher Grand Valley So. Sterling Heights, Mich.
D Tia VanSuilichem Ferris State Jr. Caledonia, Mich.
D Madz Ham Grand Valley Sr. Lake Orion, Mich.
D Madelyne Juenger Southern Indiana So. Columbia, Ill.
MF Riko Sagara Grand Valley Jr. Tokyo, Japan
MF Tara Lierman Grand Valley Sr. Holt, Mich.
MF Molly Vanderhoff Saginaw Valley Jr. Sterling Heights, Mich.
MF Audrey Van Der Elst Bellarmine Sr. Louisville, Ky.
F Ava Cook Grand Valley So. Battle Creek, Mich.
F Madeline Becker Grand Valley Fr. Ada, Mich.
F Fernada Araya Ohio Valley So. Santiago, Chile
F Stephanie Ostrander Rockhurst Jr. Kansas City, Mo.
Second Team
Pos. Name School Yr. Hometown
GK Kimberly Mora Ohio Valley Sr. San Carlos, Costa Rica
D Laura Acosta Ohio Valley Sr. Bogota, Colombia
D Claire Brothen Trevecca Nazarene Jr. Scottsdale, Ariz.
D Leah Hoffman Trevecca Nazarene Jr. Chattanooga, Tenn.
D Laura Ney Truman State Sr. Omaha, Neb.
MF Bri Rogers Ferris State So. Livonia, Mich.
MF Hanna Burke Truman State R-So. High Ridge, Mo.
MF Shannon Marsh Findlay So. St. Claire Shores, Mich.
MF Caroline Halonen Northern Michigan Fr. Hartland, Mich.
F Pia Nagel Ferris State Fr. Karlsruhe, Germany
F Valentina Giambanco Saginaw Valley Jr. Shelby Township, Mich.
F Paula Valbuena Ohio Valley So. Bogota, Colombia
F Makena Schlosser Trevecca Nazarene Fr. Indianapolis, Ind.
Midwest Region Player of the Year: Riko Sagara, Jr., Grand Valley (Tokyo, Japan)