Kelter was best all-around Big Ten freshman

There were a ton of talented freshman in the Big Ten last season but these are our five most likely to parlay that success into future greatness. Disagree with this list? You’re wrong. And you can bank on that.

The No Brainers

Christine Nairn, Penn State: Clearly the best freshman in the Big Ten last season, Nairn garnered the appropriate honors: she was our own national Rookie of the Year, was the conference’s Freshman of the Year and put on the Hermann Trophy Watch List.

What was so impressive was how Nairn stepped into a program with so much history (12 straight Big Ten titles) and instantly became one of the team’s best players. She led the team in assists and became a unanimous all-conference selection. Nairn has enjoyed a great youth career in U.S. Soccer while playing for the U20s and as a nominee for the U.S. Soccer Female Youth athlete of the Year. With the graduation of a couple key Nittany Lions expect her to make the team more of her own in the coming years.

Alev Kelter, Wisconsin: Kelter might actually be an underrated player. Sure, she did earn second team all-conference honors while making a big impact on the Wisconsin midfield and managing to take 54 shots, but those unfamiliar with her game might look at her understated numbers and miss the breadth of her game.

Kelter was the most complete freshman to arrive to the Big Ten. Hailing from Alaska, not exactly a hotbed for youth soccer, she brought with her a complete understanding of the game, a refinement in her skills and a physical toughness rare for a young player.

The Dependable

Cat Parkhill, Minnesota: Parkhill had a leg up on her fellow freshman from the start last season having red-shirted and also played on the U.S. U20 squad in 2008. She has the kind of maturity and poise that one needs to be successful as a goalkeeper and she did not disappoint during any stretch last year.

It was Parkhill’s voice the team responded to, and she made her presence felt by starting in all 20 games last year. She guided the defense to nine shutouts – second best in the conference and finished third in the Big Ten.  

The Defenders

Lexi Martin, Penn State: How do we quantify Martin’s impact on the Nittany Lions? Well, she became a regular member of a defensive unit that engineered 11 shutouts during the year. She fit in seamlessly, never once appearing overwhelmed or seeming to be the weak link of the backline. When it comes to freshman defenders sometimes it’s not a matter of what you notice about them but what you don’t; and Martin was never a liability.

A member of the Canadian U20 National Team, Martin has great strength and conditioning and she’ll only get better.

Bri Westlund, Northwestern: Westlund is believed to be the first freshman to play every minute of the season at center back for the Northwestern program. Do we really need to say much more?

Westlund has solid size but good quickness and positioning. One other interesting note about her: she played high school varsity soccer as an eighth grader – she’s always been a step ahead.