Brief Bio: Summit League Women’s Soccer

2011 League Champions: South Dakota State
2011 Tourney Champions: Oakland
Offensive Player of the Year: Kayla Braffet, South Dakota State
Defensive Player of the Year: Abbey Moenkedick, North Dakota State
Rookie of the Year: Taylor Heidorn, IUPUI
Coach of the Year: Chris Cissell, UMKC

Teams (Overall/Conference record)

South Dakota State 12-6-2/8-0-1

Senior Christa Nyblom is the leading returning scorer as Lang Wedemeyer’s regular season champion Jackrabbits will count on a number of new faces in the starting lineup. Goalkeeper Kat Donovan, and goalscorers Kayla Braffet and Kelsey Ferguson are also departed. Stephanie Berube and Courtney Higgins are back in defense.

Oakland 10-11-2/6-2-1

Nick O’Shea returns for his 19th year at Oakland, seeking to carry on the momentum of a Summit League Tournament title last season. Seven starters return including leading scorer Meghan Reynolds as well as Nicole DeLuca, Serena San Cartier, Julianne Boyle, Kyla Kellermann and Kara Weber.

North Dakota State 15-4-2/7-1-1

Mark Cook is the new mentor of the Bison, and inherits a team that performed well in 2011. Some top starters depart, but returning from the first unit are Katie Tallas, Holly Christian, Tristyn Walczak and Taylor Stainbrook.

IUPUI 3-12-4/2-6-1

Chris Johnson’s Jaguars struggled in 2011. Taylor Heidorn, Kelli Parks, Sarah Carlisle and Kristin Pierce lead the cast of returning players, with eight newcomers having every opportunity to make an immediate impact.

IPFW(w) 7-9-1/4-4-1

Margaret Saurin’s Mastadons return Tylar Allison, Danielle Bishop and Justine LeBlanc, among others.

UMKC 8-8-4/6-2-1

Talk about needing a scorecard to tell the players! Chris Cissell’s Kangaroos will sport 16 new faces in 2012.

Nebraska-Omaha 5-7-2/N/A

Now entering DI, Don Klosterman’s Mavericks return some experienced players, including Danielle Archuleta, Melanie McCormick, Jordyn Braun and Kerry Pivovar.

South Dakota 1-15-3/1-7-1

Jenny Teslow and Erin Bello are back as leading scorers for Mandy Green’s Coyotes, but South Dakota gave up 47 goals in 19 games and that will have to improve for the team to be competitive

Western Illinois 7-12-0/1-8-0

Nobody scored more than four goals last season for new coach Ted Flogaites’ Leathernecks as the scoring was spread through the squad