FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 9, 2005

Women's Soccer Lions place eight on all-conference team


The most successful season in the history of Missouri Southern women's soccer just got better as the Lions placed a school-record five players on the All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association women's soccer first team.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kaney Tyler (Topeka, Kan./Seaman HS) and freshman midfielder Nikki Llewellyn (O'Fallon, Mo./Francis Howell HS) were both voted to the first team, but both players received more awards, too.

Tyler was voted the MIAA Most Valuable Player after posting the second-best shots-on-goal save percentage in NCAA Division II (91.1), an MIAA-leading and school-best 0.58 goals-against average and a school-record 10 shutouts. Tyler's goals-against average ranks 12th nationally in Division II.

"Kaney's the last line of defense in a group that, as a whole, is very focused on its defensive effort," said coach Trevor Wachsman. "She certainly does a tremendous job back there, and I think she'll be the first to tell you that what made it possible for her to have such a great year was the people around her and in front of her."

Tyler is the second MSSU women's soccer player in school history to garner MIAA Most Valuable Player honors, joining Ashley Munnelly who won the award in 2002.

Llewellyn was chosen the MIAA Freshman of the Year after scoring a team-high 14 goals and dishing out two assists. She led the MIAA in goals (0.70 per game) and was tied for the conference scoring lead (1.50 ppg.) Her total of 30 points this year is the third highest in a single season at MSSU.

Llewellyn, Missouri Southern's first ever conference freshman of the year in women's soccer, was one of two unanimous choices to the first team, along with Washburn freshman forward Jessica Mainz.

In all, a school-record eight players from MSSU were listed on the all-conference team.

Junior Jessica Buhman (Olathe, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas HS), sophomore Erin Gfeller (Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East HS) and freshman Christina Kleekamp (Defiance, Mo./Francis Howell HS) also recieved first-team honors for the Lions.

Buhman, who has been an all-conference second-team pick the last two seasons, was a key component on defense for the Lions that posted a school-record 10 shutouts on the season.

Gfeller was second on the team in goals with six scores, including three in one match against Missouri Western, to go along with two assists for the season.

Kleekamp scored four goals, including two game-winning tallies.

The Lions also placed sophomore Ashley Turner (Columbia, Mo./Hickman HS) and freshman Kelsey Thomas (Manhattan, Kan.) on the second team, while sophomore Amy Davis (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit HS) received honorable mention honors.

Turner, who was also a second-team selection last season, started all 20 matches for the Lions and recorded one assist. Thomas and Davis also started all 20 matches, with Thomas dishing out one assist.

As a team, the Lions set school records in goals against average (0.71) and shutouts (10), while allowing the fewest goals in team history (15).

The 2005 Lions, which featured just one senior and one junior, went 11-5-4 overall, which tied a school mark for victories and recorded their best-ever MIAA finish (T-2nd) with a 6-3-4 conference record.


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