INDIANAPOLIS – Rockhurst University senior Jillian Leetch, University of Indianapolis senior Dana Youssef, Lindenwood University freshman Maggie Weller, along with McKendree University freshman Anna Stiffler and head coach Tim Strange, earned major postseason honors for the 2020-21 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women’s soccer spring season, the league office announced on Thursday.
Leetch was named Offensive Player of the Year, Youssef earned Defensive Player of the Year, Weller and Stiffler were voted Co-Freshman of the Year, and Strange was dubbed Coach of the Year by his peers. In total, 34 student-athletes claimed All-GLVC honors, while 15 were chosen as GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship nominees for the sport and Missouri S&T selected as the team sportsmanship winner.
Leetch became the third from Rockhurst to garner Offensive Player of the Year honors and first since Stephanie Ostrander in the fall of 2018. The senior midfielder topped the league this spring with 1.5 points per match, recording 18 on eight goals and two assists 12 regular season contests. Leetch was named the GLVC Offensive Player of the Week once this season (4/12) after notching four goals in a win at William Jewell. In addition, she earned National Player of the Week honors for her effort. The Lee’s Summit, Mo., product tallied at least one point in seven matches and multiple points on five occasions on her way to her third All-GLVC recognition and second First-Team award.
Youssef is the first Greyhound to earn Defensive Player of the Year accolades and first non-goalkeeper since Quincy University’s Allison Burke in 2017 to be voted the league’s top back. The senior out of Monchengladbach, Germany, tallied eight points on two goals and four assists this spring, while helping the UIndy defense limit opponents to just eight scores in 14 regular season matches. The Greyhounds allowed multiple goals twice this season, while posting eight shutouts. This marks the second All-Conference award for Youssef, including her first nod to the First Team.
For the second time in three seasons, a tie in voting has resulted in Co-Freshman of the Year winners. Lindenwood’s Weller and McKendee’s Stiffler each earned their program’s first top rookie distinction, as Weller also was named Lindenwood’s first major award winner since the school joined the GLVC prior to the 2019-20 academic year. Weller led the Lions with 11 points this spring, including a team-high five goals on 36 shots. The freshman out of nearby St. Peters, Mo., netted three game-winners, including two against ranked opponents. Stiffler also impressed as a newcomer, totaling 11 points on four goals and three assists during her first season as a Bearcat. The O’Fallon, Mo., native registered at least one point on five occasions, including two game-winners. Both Weller and Stiffler were also named All-GLVC Second Team as forwards.
Strange was voted by his peers as McKendree’s first Coach of the Year, marking the fourth straight season a new bench leader earned the major award. Strange led the Bearcats to an 11-2-1 record this spring and GLVC regular season crown as the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament. In addition, six student-athletes were named All-GLVC, including Stiffler as Co-Freshman of the Year and two First Team selections in Emma Knoebel and Danielle Knutson. In the most recent United Soccer Coaches national poll, the Bearcats are No. 4 and have only lost once in their last 11 contests.
In addition to RU’s Leetch, UIndy’s Youssef, and McKendree’s Knoebel and Knutson, seven others earned All-GLVC First Team honors, including: Maryville University senior Alex Johnson; University of Southern Indiana seniors Maggie Winter, Taylor McCormick, and Madelyne Juenger, as well as freshman Morgan Beyer; UIndy senior Taylor Peck; and Lindenwood junior Sam Blazek.
The league also recognized 15 GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award honorees and one Team award winner: Missouri S&T. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These individuals must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The honorees are now eligible to become one of their school’s two Spalding Sportsmanship Award winners, which will be announced at the end of the academic year.
A complete list of the 2020-21 All-GLVC teams and postseason honors can be found below.
Offensive Player of the Year: Jillian Leetch, Rockhurst
Defensive Player of the Year: Dana Youssef, UIndy
Co-Freshman of the Year: Maggie Weller, Lindenwood; Anna Stiffler, McKendree
Coach of the Year: Tim Strange, McKendree
All-GLVC FIRST TEAM
Alex Johnson, Sr., F, MU
Maggie Winter, Sr., F, USI
Morgan Beyer, Fr., F, USI
Jillian Leetch, Sr., MF, RU
Emma Knoebel, Jr., MF, MCK
Taylor Peck, Sr., MF, UINDY
Taylor McCormick, Sr., MF, USI
Dana Youssef, Sr., D, UINDY
Madelyne Juenger, Sr., D, USI
Danielle Knutson, Sr., D, MCK
Sam Blazek, Jr., GK, LWU
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All-GLVC SECOND TEAM
Anna Stiffler, Fr., F, MCK
Maggie Weller, Fr., F, LWU
Faith Branson, Jr., F, TSU
Mandi Kaltwasser, Sr., MF, MU
Jill DiTusa, So., MF, USI
Alynnah O'Leary, Sr., MF, MCK
Lauren Crane, Jr., MF, QU
Jill Wipke, Jr., D, LWU
Greta Seal, So., D, RU
Paige Anderson, Jr., D, QU
Sophia Saucerman, So., GK, UINDY
Mercedes King, Jr., GK, MCK
*Extra Member Due to Tie
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All-GLVC THIRD TEAM
Katlyn Andres, Jr., F, USI
Elsa Gonzalez, Fr., F, DU
Lexi Gentry, Fr., F, MU
Kiki Sauceda, Jr., F, UINDY
Bailey Bologna, Jr., MF, LWU
Mary Maloney, Sr., MF, QU
McKenna Leetch, Jr., MF, RU
Stacie Muehling, Sr., D, MU
Morgan Bova, So., D, MCK
Kaleigh Kastberg, So., D, LWU
Maya Etienne, So., GK, USI
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2020-21 JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP NOMINEES
Katie Cole, DU
Maggie Joos, UIS
Taylor Peck, UINDY
Jamie Hansen, LEWIS
Sam Blazek, LWU
Stacie Muehling, MU
Danielle Knutson, MCK
Cameryn Boucher, S&T
Emily Hanewinkel, UMSL
Morgan Evans, QU
McKenna Leetch, RU
Taylor McCormick, USI
Samantha Crawford, SBU
Sydni Beeley, TSU
Kayla Crowder, WJC
2020-21 JAMES R. SPALDING SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM AWARD
Missouri S&T