Ella Endo of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges and Avery West from California Lutheran University have been named the SCIAC Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Year to lead the 2023 All-Conference teams for women’s soccer.
Endo ranked among the top 10 in the conference in points per game but made her impact most as the primary creator for the conference’s highest-scoring offense. Her work rate in the midfield was crucial in ensuring the unbeaten Sagehens retained possession and limited the quality of their opponents’ shots to also lead the conference in fewest goals allowed.
West led a California Lutheran back line that allowed the fewest shots on goal in conference play (just 29 in 12 games) to lift the undefeated Regals to the top seed in the SCIAC Tournament. The right back also scored two goals and assisted on three more to account for a share in more than 20 percent of her team’s goals in conference play.
Whittier College unleashed one of the most dynamic attacking duos in the conference with the Newcomer of the Year Madeline Traylor joining her older sister, Layla. The rookie led the entire conference in points per game with a lead-tying eight goals. She tied for second with three game-winners, including a spectacular four-goal showing on Sept. 30.
The Award of Distinction, presented to a senior for exemplary achievements through their higher education experience, went to Ashley Wielenga of Chapman University. The award specifically recognizes students who have made significant contributions representing their school and serving their communities. A two-year team captain, National Collegiate Scholar and member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Wielenga is also heavily involved in a variety of activities on campus. She is on the Crean College leadership council, serves as the Alpha Phi director of community engagement and new member experience and is a note taker and tutor. She also is a life group leader for seventh grade girls at Saddleback Church, a veterinary assistant at Banfield Pet Hospital and is head coach of the Orange Lutheran frosh/soph girls’ soccer team.
Pomona-Pitzer’s Jen Scanlon was awarded her fourth career Coaching Staff of the Year honor after leading the Sagehens to a share of a fifth straight regular season title. Her squad led the conference in both goals scored and fewest allowed while earning a No. 18 US Soccer Coaches national ranking entering the SCIAC Tournament.
California Lutheran led all teams with six players recognized, including a league-high tying four on First Team, with Ally Fisicaro, Eden Quiroz and 2022 Offensive Athlete of the Year Isabella Veljacic joining West. Pomona-Pitzer also boasted four First Team picks among five total honorees as Patricia DePalma, Spencer Deutz and Eliana Prosnitz were recognized alongside Endo. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges matched the Sagehens with five total selections, including three on First Team - Kaitlyn Helfrich, Tori Holden and Annie McKinley. Helfrich and Veljacic made their third consecutive First Team cuts while Chapman’s Jenna Urrabazo repeated on First Team after her standout rookie season and Endo returned to the First Team, this time with top billing, after making the grade in 2021. Another Panther, Emma Harper, and West each made the step up from Second Team last season, while the elder Traylor earned her third career All-Conference distinction with a Second Team nod. Occidental College’s Mia Steadman was one of three first-years to earn recognition on the First Team along with DePalm and Madeline Traylor.
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Offensive Athlete
of the Year
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Defensive Athlete
of the Year
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Newcomer
of the Year
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Award
of Distinction
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Coaching
Staff of the Year
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Ella Endo
Pomonda-Pitzer
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Avery West
Cal Lutheran
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Madeline Traylor
Whittier
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Ashley Wielenga
Chapman
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Jen Scanlon
Pomona-Pitzer
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| First Team All-SCIAC |
| Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| Ella Endo |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Jr. |
M |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Avery West |
Cal Lutheran |
Jr. |
D |
Santa Rosa, Calif. |
| Patricia DePalma |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Fy. |
GK |
Novato, Calif. |
| Spencer Deutz |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Jr. |
D |
Moraga, Calif. |
| Ally Fisicaro |
Cal Lutheran |
Sr. |
D |
Santa Rosa, Calif. |
| Emma Harper |
Chapman |
Sr. |
D |
Long Beach, Calif. |
| Annie McKinley |
CMS |
Jr. |
D |
Lexington, Mass. |
| Kaitlyn Helfrich |
CMS |
Jr. |
M |
McLean, Va. |
| Tori Holden |
CMS |
Jr. |
M |
Healdsburg, Calif. |
| Eliana Prosnitz |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Jr. |
M |
San Francisco, Calif. |
| Eden Quiroz |
Cal Lutheran |
Gr. |
M |
Newbury Park, Calif. |
| Mia Steadman |
Occidental |
Fy. |
F |
Palo Alto, Calif. |
| Madeline Traylor |
Whittier |
Fy. |
F |
Covina, Calif. |
| Jenna Urrabazo |
Chapman |
So. |
F |
Gilroy, Calif. |
| Isabella Veljacic |
Cal Lutheran |
Gr. |
F |
Monterey Park, Calif. |
| Second Team All-SCIAC |
| Name |
Institution |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| Sadie Brown |
CMS |
So. |
GK |
Pleasanton, Calif. |
| Alanis Cervantes |
Whittier |
So. |
M |
La Habra, Calif. |
| Vivian Rojas Collins |
Pomona-Pitzer |
Fy. |
D |
Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Savana Durr |
Cal Lutheran |
Jr. |
D |
Ventura, Calif. |
| Maren Handel |
La Verne |
Fy. |
D |
La Habra, Calif. |
| Chloe Hetzel |
Occidental |
Sr. |
D |
Los Altos Hills, Calif. |
| Clare Madden |
Occidental |
Sr. |
D |
Kenmore, Wash. |
| Adriana Maroney |
Cal Lutheran |
Jr. |
M |
Honolulu, Hawai'i |
| Laurel Ovenell |
CMS |
Sr. |
M |
Mountlake Terrace, Wash. |
| Sami Salinas |
Redlands |
Jr. |
F |
Foothill Ranch, Calif. |
| Jennifer Solgaard |
Caltech |
Jr. |
F |
Palo Alto, Calif. |
| Shannon Stewart |
Redlands |
So. |
GK |
San Jose, Calif. |
| Layla Traylor |
Whittier |
Jr. |
F |
Covina, Calif. |
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