Nov. 6, 2007

Complete All-Big Sky Team in PDF Format

GREELEY, Colo.- The University of Northern Colorado's soccer team (7-8-3, 3-2-2 Big Sky) had five players named to all-Big Sky teams, the conference announced this afternoon, Nov. 6. The selections were made by the league's seven head coaches Tuesday morning.

Senior Megan Miller, junior Teresa Prais and senior Marika Johnson were named to the second team for the Bears. Redshirt junior Megan Bellendir and sophomore Sydney Vander Velde were honorable mention selection for NC. The three major award winners were: Offensive MVP Katie McCoy (Sacramento State), Defensive MVP Juli Edwards (Portland State), Top Newcomer Jessica Blessard (Eastern Washington).

Miller, who was also a second-team selection last season, leads the team and ranks 10th in the league with three assists. She also has tallied three goals including the game-winner against Montana on Oct. 14. The senior was also named the Big Sky's Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 15 and keys a Northern Colorado defense that has only allowed a total of five goals in six games.

Prais, a second team choice for the first time in her career, is tied for the team lead and ranks seventh in the conference with four goals. She also has a pair of assists for 10 points. The 10 points is tied for seventh in the league. Prais also had the game-winner against Air Force (Oct. 9).

Johnson, who also was on the second team last season, has tallied two goals and two assists for four points on the year. She is also a standout in the classroom and was named to the ESPN The Magazine's All-District Team with a 3.84 grade-point average.

Bellendir was an honorable mention choice for the first time. She has aided Northern Colorado's defense to 14 games of two goals or less. On the year, Bellendir has appeared in all 18 games with 10 shot attempts.

Vander Velde was also an honorable mention selection for the first time in her career. The sophomore is tied for the team lead and ranks seventh in the conference with four goals. Vander Velde scored a pair of game-winners on the year including the goal that propelled NC into the Big Sky Soccer Tournament for the first time against Northern Arizona on Nov. 3.

Next, Northern Colorado's soccer team will travel to Sacramento, Calif. to participate in the Big Sky Championship for the first time in school history. NC earned the third-seed and will battle against second-seeded Weber State (7-7-3, 3-2-2 Big Sky) on Friday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. PST. The winner will take on the winner of the Sacramento State/Portland State game for a berth into the 2007 NCAA Soccer Tournament.